I am sure that title grabbed the attention of a few people. Some are screaming "You are absolutely right!" Others are screaming just as loudly from the opposite side "How can you, as a teacher, say that?!"
I try to be a practicing member of the Common Sense Party. You will find that most of my views are not touchy feely. I like facts and abhor hypocrisy. That being said, it is a fact that not every kid that is about to graduate from high school this fine spring is prepared for what they are about to face at the college level. I am not talking about educationally. Most of the high schools in our country do a reasonable job presenting students with the opportunity to be ready to learn in college. That being said, some 18 year olds are not mature enough to be on their own right out of high school. For some, their motivations for going to school are less about education and more about social status or opportunities to socialize. There are so many distractions for teens today, and college can be a smorgasbord of opportunities, many of which are very detrimental to the learning process.
Another major reason that college may not be the best option for some students is financial hardship. Many students do not have the money to go school right away. Crushing college debt is one of the biggest issues students of the 21st century will face. We now have generations of Americans retiring having not finished paying off their student loans. According to a CNBC article entitled "Another challenge in retirement? Student loans," "In 2018, Americans over the age of 50 owed more than $260 billion in student debt, up from $36 billion in 2004, according to the Federal Reserve." It is quite unconscionable that we have banks making great sums off money off the backs of students. This is a multifaceted issue that must eventually be addressed by our country. For now, students must ask the hard questions: is going to this particular school affordable? Is it really worth what I will have to pay to go there? Can I get a good education at a smaller school for less money?
But, if college is NOT the best option today, what are these new high school graduates to do? That is a great question with multiple possible answers. One obvious answer is: GET A JOB! It may not be the career they want or plan to pursue for the rest of their lives, but they can go get some EXP. They can find out what they want out of life. After working for a bit, they may find that more education is exactly what they need. They will have the motivation to be successful in getting that education, and, hopefully, they will have saved some money toward paying for it. Again, getting more education does not have to mean college. Tech schools, trade schools, vocational training, internships, and apprenticeships are all viable options as well. There are many high paying jobs sitting empty in the trades as high school students are indoctrinated with the idea that college is the only way to move forward in life.
Student's who DO decide that college is the path for them need to go in with their eyes wide open. College is difficult. It can be fun and rewarding, but IT IS WORK, and it should be treated as such, not like a $50,000 a year party. While this would seem to be obvious, according to the National Student Clearinghouse, only 52.9 percent of students who enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities in the fall of 2009 completed school within six years. The worse news is the graduation rate is dropping. Many college students who do graduate find themselves underemployed and even in positions that did not require a degree to begin with.
So, no, you do not have to go to college. There are plenty of great opportunities out there that do not require a degree. If you do go, go for the right reasons, and be focused and determined to succeed. I tell all my college bound seniors, know what you believe, know why you believe it, and know how to defend it. It is actually good advice for everyone at all stages of life.
Have a day! Make it your own!
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