GRADUATION PATHWAYS

By Wally Lowry

The university, the junior college, trade schools, and apprenticeships should be available avenues of choice for our students.

POSITION PAPER

The following are a few of my views that directly relate to the direction in which I would like to see the Board of Trustees proceed and to which I might provide significant assistance as a Board Member:

GRADUATION PATHWAYS

Not everyone has the desire to go on to a four-year institution of higher learning. Basic skills and understanding in reading, writing, arithmetic, and history are essential to all students. Career pathways, however, can be directional in order to meet all students' needs and goals. The "university," the "vocation," the "specialization" do not necessarily require that all students take the same academic path. Our society has the institutions already in place for each student to succeed after high school in a path of his/her choosing. The university for levels of higher academic and professional learning, the junior college for vocational as well as higher learning, the trade schools for specific specialization learning and actual field level active apprenticeships are available for those who are qualified. My goal will be to ensure that those students leaving high school are best prepared for whatever career pathway they have chosen. The diploma must mean something that is more than just a piece of paper. Having taught at the university and the junior college levels I have witnessed too often many students' inability to effectively express themselves in written form and unable to comprehend math concepts essential for adequate career development.

Encouraging more home and community involvement and support is a major step toward improving programs and increasing learning. The participation, energy and commitment by parents in their own child's schooling will eventually raise the levels of all measurement standards.