Re: [MATHEDCC] College opportunity for everyone?

Bret Taylor (bret@IAG.NET)
Wed, 20 Jan 1999 20:53:49 -0500 (EST)

At 10:59 AM 1/20/99 -0600, John Chamberlain wrote:
>I heard Pres Clinton say last night (State of the Union address) that
>he was proud to have made a college education available to all.
>Specifically, he said:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> ...With tax credits and more affordable student loans,
> with more work-study grants and more Pell grants,
> with education IRAs and the new HOPE scholarship tax
> cut that more than 5 million Americans will receive
> this year, we have opened the doors of college to
> all Americans.
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>In light of the recent discussions about the poorly prepared students
>struggling in our remedial math classes, is this really a good thing?
> Just because one can afford something, does that mean he/she should
>jump up and go for it?
>

I think the basic flaw in his idea is he seems to have the premise:

If we send them, they will learn.

I sure would like to see politicians of both parties talking more about
student responsibility and accountability. In Clinton's speech last night
he talked about "student's graduating who couldn't read their diplomas."
But, I never heard him talk about maybe the student never should have graduated.

I'd like to hear a politician who believes that every state should promote
open admission colleges say:

No person deserves to be given a college diploma. Every person deserves the
right to earn one.

But, I'm not holding my breath.

>

Bret Taylor Lake-Sumter Community College Leesburg FL

"It matters not the subject taught, nor all the books on all the shelves.
What matters more, yes most of all, is what the teachers are themselves."
John Wooden

John 3: 3^3 + 3

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