University Education

Disturbing trends have been noticed throughout the high schools in the States. Students used to have more general knowledge. Students today are not prepared for college level academics. Graduation requirements have higher standards today, so what’s the matter? Why are the graduates less qualified?
It is obvious that such situation didn’t emerge at once without any reasons for that, the pattern was growing for years.

In the past students were tracked. If someone had higher intellectual abilities, he/she was studying with stronger students. There was some kind of differentiation between the students depending on their personal abilities and talents. Builders didn’t have to prepare a coursework. Education was meeting the needs of any student.

With the standardized graduation tests, programs transferred from career based to remedial core content. Teachers pay more attention to the low performing students. Those who are high achieving have to develop their knowledge themselves. It’s all about the set of scores today.

Standardized tests were created to prove that high school students gained necessary knowledge and are prepared for college studying. But it’s not that easy and not so fair. First of all such tests cannot evaluate the whole high school learning. Some tests are taken in the middle of the year. Another part of studying stays unaccounted. Students can use several attempts to pass. The final assessment seems to be quite subjective.

Each year the passing standards are lower and lower. Of course, it wouldn’t lead to the good preparation for college. The situation is even worse, less than one third of high school graduates are interested in college studying at all. One third of college students do not finish their education.

The standardized testing was presenting to make equal opportunities for everyone, but it turned out to be unfair for all. Low students do not focus on practical directives. High school students are preparing for tests not for college!

Bright student shouldn’t ‘inspire’ low learners, it would never happen! Why do gifted students have to suffer? This is unjust!

The only option for a bright pupil is a boarding school, where he/she can achieve the highest level of education. The only problem is where to get money for such ‘fair’ education…