College, Shmollege.
This morning on NPR, Frank DeFord--Sven's favorite sports commentator--gave a little speech about why boys comprise only 42% of college graduates/college freshman this year? Last year? Can't remember, but it's a low number. I've got a real ear for details.
Anyway, his argument was that it was because of sports. We push sports on boys, overly-celebrating their athletic accomplishments, while simultaneously downplaying their academic life and/or not encouraging it at all. There's some merit to that argument, fo sho.
But what about the options to college itself? Isn't there anything else we can do with ourselves after high school?
Not that college is a bad thing. It certainly isn't. But this movement to herd kids from one school into another, pay who-knows-what-ungodly-amount, and do it unquestioningly,with the dire, blunt message that if they don't they're doomed to fail in our uber-competitive market, er, society . . . that's a little misguided, I'd say. Sure, 18-year olds are official "adults", but a little bit of maturity and life experience never hurt anyone's studies. The thing about college is that it will be there. You know, whenever! It's probably easier to go sooner than later, before you start filling up the minivan with spouse and kids and filling up the credit cards with crushing debt loads. But still, it'll be there.
Do I want my boys to go? Sure, if they want to. Even without a career goal in mind, it never hurts to fill the old noggin with some good book learnin'. Do I want them to play collegiate sports? Sure, as long as it's not football (kickers excepted), and if it's what they want to do. But I'd be ever so proud if they excelled in their studies, or in chess club, or in the band, or in whatever else they enjoyed doing.
Still, it's college, and this post is all about options. At least one option.
I like to watch This Old House. The master craftsmen on This Old House told me about a new apprenticeship program that aims to herd more kids into the building trades. Plumbers, electricians, builders who know what the hell they're doing--these people are becoming remnants of a well-built past.
Good ones (probably bad ones, too) make a hell of a good living. They get to see the result of their day's work; they make tangible products that we all use. They are empowering jobs--you have a wanted skill, you are your own boss, you are well-compensated, you are needed.
When I was a teacher, I sometimes did an exercise with my students wherein they had to, Dr. Strangelove-like, choose ten people that they would 'take into the cave' with them during the apocalypse. Basically, they had to pick the 10 most useful type of people in the whole world. Teachers made it onto a couple of lists, but nearly all would be incinerated, along with lawyers, middle management (and CEOs), politicians, and most brainiacs. Who would repopulate the earth? Farmers, doctors, engineers, builders, electricians, plumbers, Playboy bunnies, and Johnny Depp.
Options.
Anyway, his argument was that it was because of sports. We push sports on boys, overly-celebrating their athletic accomplishments, while simultaneously downplaying their academic life and/or not encouraging it at all. There's some merit to that argument, fo sho.
But what about the options to college itself? Isn't there anything else we can do with ourselves after high school?
Not that college is a bad thing. It certainly isn't. But this movement to herd kids from one school into another, pay who-knows-what-ungodly-amount, and do it unquestioningly,with the dire, blunt message that if they don't they're doomed to fail in our uber-competitive market, er, society . . . that's a little misguided, I'd say. Sure, 18-year olds are official "adults", but a little bit of maturity and life experience never hurt anyone's studies. The thing about college is that it will be there. You know, whenever! It's probably easier to go sooner than later, before you start filling up the minivan with spouse and kids and filling up the credit cards with crushing debt loads. But still, it'll be there.
Do I want my boys to go? Sure, if they want to. Even without a career goal in mind, it never hurts to fill the old noggin with some good book learnin'. Do I want them to play collegiate sports? Sure, as long as it's not football (kickers excepted), and if it's what they want to do. But I'd be ever so proud if they excelled in their studies, or in chess club, or in the band, or in whatever else they enjoyed doing.
Still, it's college, and this post is all about options. At least one option.
I like to watch This Old House. The master craftsmen on This Old House told me about a new apprenticeship program that aims to herd more kids into the building trades. Plumbers, electricians, builders who know what the hell they're doing--these people are becoming remnants of a well-built past.
Good ones (probably bad ones, too) make a hell of a good living. They get to see the result of their day's work; they make tangible products that we all use. They are empowering jobs--you have a wanted skill, you are your own boss, you are well-compensated, you are needed.
When I was a teacher, I sometimes did an exercise with my students wherein they had to, Dr. Strangelove-like, choose ten people that they would 'take into the cave' with them during the apocalypse. Basically, they had to pick the 10 most useful type of people in the whole world. Teachers made it onto a couple of lists, but nearly all would be incinerated, along with lawyers, middle management (and CEOs), politicians, and most brainiacs. Who would repopulate the earth? Farmers, doctors, engineers, builders, electricians, plumbers, Playboy bunnies, and Johnny Depp.
Options.
posted by lulu | 6:16 AM
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