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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
‘Alternatives’ To A College Education
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While I was in Nashville speaking at a journalism conference yesterday, Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson was announcing a new plan to enhance career education in the state’s public high schools.
As James Salzer pointed out in his article, many high schools already offer extensive menus of career-tech courses or dual-credit programs with technical colleges. Earlier this year, the Legislature also funded a new $16 million program to encourage public colleges and universities to work with school systems to create “career academies” — much like the Central Educational Center in Newnan.
But apparently Richardson wants even more career-tech options. His $20 million plan would allow students to substitute courses from Georgia’s technical colleges for regular high school classes. When those teens graduate, they’ll receive both a diploma and a “Certificate of Advanced Study,” showing they have the skills needed to start a career.
Richardson said the program should help cut down on the state’s dismal drop out rate. State Rep. Fran Millar, who’s joining the speaker in the effort, agreed. “We need to be honest with ourselves,” Millar said. “We need to engage our students by the ninth grade and educate them on alternatives to college.”
I wonder: How would parents who want their children to go to college feel about those “alternatives”?
