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College not necessary to become a success

Many high schools base their success on student ACT and SAT test scores, the percentage of students who have been accepted to college, and the number of scholarships that have been awarded.

Now to my knowledge, there are no follow-up statistics regarding those students who drop out of college before graduating. This would be an interesting study for an educational researcher to investigate.

With today’s exuberant college costs, I believe that some scholarships could actually be referred to as “teasers.”

“What!” you say.

Well, I was talking to one parent who was proud that his child received a $10,000 yearly scholarship to attend a fine university. The excitement subsided when he learned that matriculating at this institution of higher learning for four years would cost $160,000.

Thus, his child will have to take out student loans amounting to $120,000 if she wants to graduate.

Not a pretty financial picture starting out on one’s career, unless a student plans to be a medical doctor, dentist, lawyer, or other high paying careers.

Fortunately, students, who pursue such professions, will be able to pay off their college loans within a short period of time due to their monetarily lucrative positions.

However, graduates in the education, social and health services fields will not make nearly as much earnings over the course of their careers. For example, I have a young friend in education who just received his master’s degree in mathematics. He is entering his first professional teaching position with a $101,000 loan obligation. It will take him decades to get out of college loan debt.

I know this may be considered a bit outlandish, but I believe that the tuitions for the above occupations should be determined by what their future projected incomes will be.

As an old-schooler, I couldn’t even begin to imagine owing a $100,000-plus in educational loans prior to starting out on a teacher’s salary. College tuition should most definitely be based on potential career earnings.

Then there are the scholastic students who are enticed by their school districts to register for college that really aren’t suited for such higher education studies. If you disagree, then tell me why many colleges offer remedial reading and mathematics courses in their academic curriculums.

To my way of thinking, these are student prerequisites that should have been satisfied prior to entering college. Moreover, such “go-to-college” practices stressed by some high schools are inadvertently setting lots of kids up for failure.

In reality, many of these students’ skills are more suited for the clerical (medical, business, etc.), technical (radiologists, dental assistants, etc.), trades (electricians, sheet metal workers, welders etc.), and the military areas of endeavor. Such non-college abilities should also be encouraged and promoted in the high school setting.

These students should not be ignored, but guided by school counselors to set goals that are educationally-appropriate to their abilities and skills. Likewise, they should not be made to feel inferior to a student who is more suited for a college education.

It is my sincere contention that high schools should place as much emphasis and public recognition during graduation ceremonies regarding the students who want to continue in careers that don’t involve college degrees.

In conclusion, I have a brief anecdote to share with my readers. A few months ago, I had the privilege to converse with one of my former students. He began

by telling me how much he enjoyed being a student in my language arts/reading class.

I was truly flattered. Such positive student-feedback means a lot to teachers.

It is always nice to know that your efforts in the classroom have not gone unappreciated.

During our discussion, he told me that he is now a sheet metal specialist. I told him that was great. Then he seemed a bit embarrassed when he said to me, “Dr. Welker, last year I earned well over $100,000 at my job.”

I said, “That’s outstanding! You don’t need to be apologetic. You have made my day. Learning that my former students have succeeded in life has always been very gratifying to me.”

So, my readers, let us never downplay the significance of those students whose abilities and skills do not involve a college education. To be quite honest, they are just important in our society as college graduates, and often more so.

If you’re still not convinced, just ask anyone who needs a plumber, their kitchen remodeled, a room-addition to their home, or someone to protect our American way of life.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”

Mark Twain

Bill Welker’s e-mail is mattalkwv@hotmail.com

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