Comments on: Group Wants More Local Residents To Achieve A College Degree

By: A

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 01:58:39 +0000

Somebody is going to have to drive the truck. Somebody needs to know how to change a flat tire. Somebody needs to know how to fix the toilet. Somebody needs to know which end of the hammer goes in your hand. When all you scholars are lined up to apply for that $18,000/year job don’t any of you complain about what a plumber makes or how much he/she charges.

By: Sage2

Sage2 — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:15:07 +0000

Being realistic is part of being intelligent and so-called educated. With that in mind maybe this “planning group” would wish for 50% by 2025. Of course, there are some colleges and universities that will throw a diploma in your car if the windows are down!

We need to assess what is best, affordable and attainable once a person is mature enough to understand the benefits of having a higher education…whatever level that may be. Otherwise, there are those that will depend on society to support them throughout their entire lives.

By: THE DOER

THE DOER — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 12:11:57 +0000

This looks so good and noble on paper, but let’s just shed some light here. #1–A college degree is not the epitome of success. Things have been watered down, including a high school diploma, that many kids do have a piece of paper that really means nothing. Why? Unqualified teachers are becoming the norm in the public classrooms. Districts are having to hire whatever is out there. You can have a four-year degree in hotel management, but you can go pass a certification test, and guess what? Now you’re a “qualified” teacher. Isn’t that just grand?

And guess who pays the price? Look at the numbers in Santa Rosa and Escambia County alone. Very few students can pass simple grammar tests and basic math tests. Oh, that’s right. A lot of things “teachers” don’t teach because they don’t know it themselves. What happened to teachers being specialists in their fields? I guess that’s old school.

#2–We need skills training. Let’s start this in high school. What happened to shop classes, real cooking classes, music lessons, etc.? All of those are ripped away now to replace them with remedial classes, so kids can pass whatever is needed to graduate. Real-life skills are not taught anymore. We need future welders, plumbers, mechanics. College is not for everyone. High schools need to quit trying to act as if it is.

#3–When the “college for everyone” idea is pushed, we are selling all those involved short. Many, many students need a skill. This really becomes evident in the 6th grade.

Educating the masses in the form of more college achievement is not the answer. Let’s get more skilled labor out there, and this should start in middle and high school — not silly school academies that are led by unqualified bodies simply placed in the room to meet a quota. We need real partnerships with businesses, etc. That’s true achievement!

By: Oversight

Oversight — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:46:55 +0000

What do the percentages mean in real numbers? So there are 300k residents in the county and 40% have degrees. Are they saying that 120,000 residents have degrees? Then raise the number to 60% to 180,000 in 7 years? Maybe it’s a nice goal but a bit unrealistic considering the capacity of PSC and UWF.