Jackson Free Press

General classroom goals for high-school students, in Mississippi and elsewhere, emphasize pushing kids toward four-year college degrees. Some Magnolia state lawmakers are now looking at introducing a career-track curriculum for the many teens who may not be college bound, reports The Sun Herald.

"We're not trying to dummy-down the curriculum," House Education Committee Chairman Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, told The Sun Herald. "The whole (educational) system is focused on trying to move kids in a path to get a four-year degree in college, but a number of kids don't want to do that."

Under the bill, H.B. 1210, students could take English classes focused on report reading and analyzing, for example, or on technical writing.

Legislators hope the bill will curb Mississippi's 16 percent drop out rate, giving students curriculum more likely to keep their interest.

"We're talking about courses that are rigorous, but relevant to careers," said Senate Education Committee Chairman Videt Carmichael, R-Meridian.

Previous Comments

ID

156587

Comment

I thought that MS Public Schools had a two track system: One for students who are college bound and the other is vocational. The Honoral Cecil Brown makes an argument without facts to justify the initiation of such a bill. Since when would a politician introduce a bill such as this with his only justification being "....but a number of kids don't want to do that". Is the Senator suggesting that the lack of interest and boredom are reasons enough to change a high school curriculum? Just remember that MS's public Schools are predominally African-American: Where is the input from Counselors, Social Workers or others who know that a child having decreased interest have other causal factors that must be taken into consideration? Who are the players at Brown's table and what are the areas of expertise?

Author

justjess

Date

2010-03-08T12:44:48-06:00

ID

156593

Comment

This stance assumes that the only reason students are educated is for a career, which is a dangerous assumption to make. Literacy is vital to a democratic society. Language arts isn’t just about being able to read a report, it is about total communicative capability. Students should be taught to critically assess a variety of communicative forms, access more intellectually complex civic/social conversations and debates, and to express (more complex) ideas and perspectives in clear and concise ways. These skills aren't just for college bound students, but for everyone if they are to be active and responsible actors in our cherished democracy. This indeed is dumbing down the curriculum. I wonder if any of the senators drafting this legislation would find language arts classes that only allowed for students to "read or analyze reports" acceptable for their own children and grandchildren?

Author

Renaldo Bryant

Date

2010-03-08T14:10:43-06:00

ID

156617

Comment

baquan2000, your point is very well taken; however, all of the schools you mentioned are crowded: Callaway continues to have trailers - even with their expansion. It is my understanding that the only students who are actually "bussed" are those who are participants in APAC, the Baccalaureate Program at Jim Hill, the Alternative School and Morrison. One question for the politician is who will actually make the dicision about a student chosing a non-college directed program. Ain't nothing WRONG with this; but, something Ain't RIGHT!!!

Author

justjess

Date

2010-03-09T09:55:22-06:00

ID

156625

Comment

It is an interesting question - why the students "don't want to do that" and what our obligation is to educate them both as citizens and for job preparation. I'm becoming increasingly cynical about higher education in terms of the huge cost of it - maybe there are reasons to go a different way, towards graphic design, mechanics, health care tech, etc. Makes me think...

Author

Izzy

Date

2010-03-09T12:08:50-06:00