education rant

The North Carolina State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction are trying to push through a “Core Course of Study” that would “require all students to enroll in the University/College Preparatory or College Technical Preparation course of study except those determined by a professional review team to be better served through participation in another pathway,” according to Wandra Polk, director of the division of secondary education for the DPI.

The new rigorous course of study will also include a fourth math requirement higher than Algebra 2 and two units of a foreign language.

Hey, as long as you’re adding core requirements, add another social science, like geography so kids can find Moldova on a map. And why not require four units of physical education to help wipe out the obesity problem?

And why require a foreign language? I failed French, forgot Spanish and German and some say I struggle with English.

For once, I agree with Dr. Jeff Moss, superintendent for Beaufort County Schools, who said he and other educators across the state want the SBE and the DPI to “slow the train down a little bit.”

I was never the smartest kid in class. But I’m not the village idiot either. I never went to a four-year university, mainly because I couldn’t afford it. I did, however, go to a community college...albeit for seven years. I wouldn’t trade those seven years for four at a university. Well, maybe a full-ride at UNC-Chapel Hill. I’m just not cut out for a university, just like a lot of other students.

Isn't high school supposed to be a time of exploration. Some people don't know what they want to do when they go or get out of college. I suppose this is supposed to help that. But by not having a chance to explore multiple options, aren't students being made to decide early and pick a path for what they think they want to do when they're 14?

Why nail down students to a particular "track" and not let them have the academic freedom to choose what classes they want to take?

All through my educational career, I’ve never stuck to a track. In high school, I explored. I took classes that seemed interesting, with the thought, maybe I can find something I want to do. I spent four years in Junior ROTC, but didn’t go into the military. Why? Not for me.

But, my career path, unbeknownst to me, began to take shape. I served as squadron photographer and two positions in public affairs. I also took a graphics class in high school.

In college, I became interested in video production and other forms of communication.

Since then I have interned on a year-long television show, helped start two newspapers, worked on several independent movies and even dabbled a bit in radio...all without a college degree in communication or high school training. Heck, no journalism training either...just a public relations course, and a few desktop publishing classes for my marketing degree. But before I graduated high school, I wouldn’t have even imagined doing all of that by age 25.

I believe if you have and take the time and opportunity to explore your options, you’ll wind up where you want to be.