"Education Commissioner Susan Gendron said Friday that she wants every high school senior to apply to college before being eligible for a diploma." ~ Sun-JournalApparently it is being recommended to the legislature that in order to graduate from high school, the student must apply to a college.
See full Sun-Journal article.
Bangor Daily News article
Portland Press Herald: College Aspirations the Key to Maine's Future Prosperity - George Mitchell & Speaker Glenn Cummings
Maine Government News: College Applications to Become High School Graduation Requirement
Should governments have this power? What do you think?
Some background information: The Maine Compact - College for ME
Who's Who - Board of Directors List, Staff - Executive Director: Henry Bourgeois, Sponsors/Funders
University of Maine System Online Application for Admission
Informational Letter # 31 saying that the requirement would be to fill out the application, not necessarily actually apply to a college.
Another Viewpoint:
The Big Con in Education: Why Must "All" High School Graduates Be Prepared for College?
Center for the Study of Jobs & Education in Wisconsin and United States - Dennis W. Redovich
Interview with Dennis W. Redovich
Is University Necessary for All?
Google Answers: Is College Necessary?
To my mind it is consistent with every other abuse of power perpetrated by this governor and this commissioner of education. They make me embarrassed to be a Democrat. Perhaps I should just consider myself a small-d democrat.
ReplyDeleteThis is they kind of big government that allows conservatives to get traction whenever they criticize Democrats for overstepping their bounds : while it is certainly a commendable goal to apply to college, it is not something that should be enforced or imposed as public policy. Furthermore, imposing this requirement would fly in the face of standards-based education. At some point the state must have faith in the individual to act responsibly in his or her best interest. Not to do so undermines the very standards in which we've invested so much time and money.
This also assumes that college is the optimal placement for every student immediately following high school. Obviously, this is a fallacy because many learners successfully choose other paths after high school.
ReplyDeleteWill the state fund all these college applications?
Amen
ReplyDelete