College for All?

A recent article by Catherine Gewert, Harvard Report Questions Value of ‘College for All’ featured in Education Week discusses a major issue in the American Educational System. In the report that was released by a group of Harvard Scholars, they point out that education is too focused on classroom-based academics with four-year college as a goal. The fear is that this is not serving all students – some have different needs and skills that a traditional education doesn’t cover.

In the report they looked to European systems of vocational education, arguing that we need this in America. This would include providing apprenticeships, internships, and involving employers more. This would also include career counseling from earlier on, and allow students to focus on a particular area of interest. This change is also being called upon because of job forecasts that show there will be a gap between jobs available that require associates degrees or vocational training, and the number of people who acquire training and associates degrees to fill those jobs. Basically, schools will be preparing people for the real world by taking the traditional route, while the real world will have a lack of people who are prepared for the job needs that are available.

I think this change makes complete sense; we all excel at different things, and we don’t all fit into the same box. So to try and force everyone to take the four year college route doesn’t seem logical. I think the way things have been going, we have been neglecting students who might have talents and interests in other areas. What do you think about this proposed change in education? Could we be missing out on educating many students because they don’t fit into the mold? Or is the traditional education system a tried and true method because it works the best?