Further thoughts--
While there's a small core of a basic point in here, there are some
problems with the article.
While the author talks about a 'value added' test for colleges, he
does not directly acknowledge the possibility that while substandard
performance high school students enter college, they may learn things
of value and still graduate as substandard college students.
A bottom quarter college student may be more capable than a bottom
quarter high school student, despite obvious deficiencies.
Second point:
The author talks extensively about the SAT as a measure, but does not
appear to be aware that most college students take the ACT rather
than the SAT.
On Oct 21, 2008, at 7:55 PM, Gerald Peterson wrote:
I have long held that colleges have become higher high schools.
There are many reasons for this, but a recent article offers food
for thought regarding the outcome--many people who go to college
are not likely to finish, and many who do finish are still poorly
prepared for the challenges that await. Currently I am trying to
help students with varying personal, psychological, and
motivational problems. Many are not prepared for college level
reading, writing, or thinking. I have a Gen. Psych class that will
yield 30-35% Fs and Ds, a 300 level Personality Class of evening
students where many cannot read or comprehend the text or lecture
and are expecting high school or lower level questions and tons of
extra credit when they don't know the material. Many will not
succeed in my class or in college, or even later should they
somehow graduate. Are they victims of the popular idea that
college is necessary for all jobs? Is it really? Consider:
America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree at
http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i34/34b01701.htm
Paul Brandon
Emeritus Professor of Psychology
Minnesota State University, Mankato
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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