Comments on: Meet Milt http://www.ibabuzz.com/tricitybeat/2008/02/15/meet-milt/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:18:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: R.J. Seaby http://www.ibabuzz.com/tricitybeat/2008/02/15/meet-milt/comment-page-1/#comment-23 R.J. Seaby Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:40:35 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/tricitybeat/2008/02/15/meet-milt/#comment-23 "The primary goal of any educational institution is to educate students. (The district has) got a very aggressive set of academic goals that I'll be driving," said Werner, adding that a long-term district goal is to have every student qualify to attend a four-year public university in California. This a very disturbing statement from the soon to be Superintendent of Fremont Schools. It is a continuation of the one approach fits all, elitist and everyone goes to college attitude that excludes all those students who would prefer a trade or skill based education. To expend district resources in an attempt to qualify every student for a four-year college career is to deny a significant number of Fremont's students the education and training that will allow them to experience success in their post high school years. One only has to examine the statistics to see that we have a difficult time keeping all our students in high school and far too many who begin a college career do not graduate from college. Are our students telling us something? As a nation we will still need skilled carpenters, plumbers, auto mechanics, and various other trades persons. These jobs do not require time in a four year college setting. When will those in charge of our schools' programs wake up and realize this fact? Time is running out...and so are our resources. “The primary goal of any educational institution is to educate students. (The district has) got a very aggressive set of academic goals that I’ll be driving,” said Werner, adding that a long-term district goal is to have every student qualify to attend a four-year public university in California.

This a very disturbing statement from the soon to be Superintendent of Fremont Schools. It is a continuation of the one approach fits all, elitist and everyone goes to college attitude that excludes all those students who would prefer a trade or skill based education. To expend district resources in an attempt to qualify every student for a four-year college career is to deny a significant number of Fremont’s students the education and training that will allow them to experience success in their post high school years.

One only has to examine the statistics to see that we have a difficult time keeping all our students in high school and far too many who begin a college career do not graduate from college. Are our students telling us something? As a nation we will still need skilled carpenters, plumbers, auto mechanics, and various other trades persons. These jobs do not require time in a four year college setting. When will those in charge of our schools’ programs wake up and realize this fact? Time is running out…and so are our resources.

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