Ed. Week post (catch up #3)

In the December 8th issue of Ed. Week, the article, “Elementary Students Encouraged to Raise College Expectations”, talked about getting students as early as Elementary school excited about the idea of going to college. I love the quote “Waiting until they are in high school for college readiness is as crazy as starting parenting when a kid is 13. You miss the opportunity”, so true. Having the students learn early on about colleges is valuable. The article states that “By creating a college going culture, they hope to inspire students towards a lifelong path of deeper learning that will end with a degree”. Mr. Lopez, a former principal, acknowledges that “for kids who live in poverty, it will take a childhood to break down myths about college and get the child to the place where they can see college in their future”. I came from a family where college was just not done and therefore didn’t seem like a possibility for me. I somehow overcame those thoughts to become the first college graduate in my family but not until I was an adult. If something like this would have been in place who knows, I might have done it earlier. The article goes on to say that they try to get the community involved by using volunteers from universities, businesses and other organizations (who will be trained) to inspire students to “aim high”. There is also a New Haven Promise Scholarship that will give $2,500 annually towards college tuition to qualifying students (positive disciplinary records, 20 hours of community service, 90 percent attendance rate and a 3.0 gpa). They are even trying to get the parents more involved, which I think will be the hardest to accomplish in the lower socio-economic areas. Ms. Cargile, Principal at Rio Grande Elementary School said, “By the time they leave elementary school those patterns and habits are set” and I agree that starting young is the key.