After reading the article about Lincoln High School (LHS), I started to wonder if I agreed with the multiple programs or not. On one hand, I enjoyed the fact the school catered to the students' needs, especially if they had learning disabilities, and gave options for career goals. But on the other hand, it's unfortunate students at a young age have to choose their life's career. I debate myself about this issue for several reasons.
1. LHS gives students an opportunity that other schools do not. If a student is not interested in the general curriculum most schools teach, they can choose to learn/do something that intrigues them and gives them a drive. I remember a classmate in high school who hated coming to class and learning about World History or Philosophy, but if someone mentioned anything about mechanics he was all about that.
2. I like how the school continues to work with the students even if they seem to fall behind or are choosing to drop-out. I look at other schools, especially public, and if the student is not excelling the faculty ignores him/her and will sometime begin to stereotype them as a slacker or unmotivated. LHS gives second chances and motivation to continue to prosper.
But here lies my issue - why must students be categorized? Shouldn't all students have the same opportunities? And why are students at the age of 14/15 making life decisions? I have changed my major two times while in college and what I wanted as a career in high school is not what I want now. I feel this is too much pressure on a student at such a young age. I also feel there is a stigma on the students that choose the alternate programs, such as they are not smart enough to be in academic house or they will never go to college anyway so they might as well start learning a trade. These concepts are not fair and are slightly mean.
Although I like the idea this school has, I do have my reservations about it...
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I think that high schools should be treated a bit more like colleges. Where the student can pick what they like after a general overview of everything that is offered and learn more specifically about what they like or want to do. This could help students decide what they wish to do after school, rather than just either finding some sort of job or going to college and still not knowing what they want to do with their life.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting topic. You should read "Shame of the Nation" By Kozol. In this book he discusses how public schools in urban areas are becoming more like trade schools where they prepare a student for a job, while the schools in the suburbs focus on being creative and teaching students to become managers instead of workers. You are right it is unfair to make a student choose his life career at 14/15. In my public high school in the suburbs I was taught to be creative; yet, I was pressured to pick a career field that I was interested in which made me feel unprepared for life which as a result made me feel anxious about my career goals.
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