How is College Part of Higher Education?

Tuesday, leaders in education will address community colleges as part of the formula for improving higher education in America. President Obama, Second Lady Jill Biden, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis will meet for the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges. Community colleges are under the umbrella term "higher education," which includes education beyond high school, specifically education provided by colleges, graduate schools and professional schools. One reason for the summit is it works toward President Obama's education goal that by 2020 "the United States will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world." This is an admirable goal that America can and should reach, but all angles concerning college need analyzed.

Teachers, parents and society's views concerning college differ. High school teachers often question if every student should head to college. Parents are a mixed bunch. They know their children's strengths and weaknesses and while most dream of attending their children's college graduations, know of a different route. The public generally believes most students are suitable for college, and would succeed if they had proper preparation. These three groups that influence education should join the conversations the Summit of Community Colleges raises. One concept is what 'college' actually is. While some form of higher education is necessary for most sustainable careers, all forms after high school fall into the category of 'college', which is just one component of higher education. This misunderstanding skews honest discussions.

However, the majority believes that all students should attend college. Lets look at the implications of assuming all graduating high school students are moving onto college. One bit is high school curriculum. Movies and teacher unions squabble over the content of high school classes, but teachers struggle to make it challenging enough for college-bound students and fair enough for students at varying levels. Teaching students writing and reading skills in preparation for college may not be a concern for students behind several grade levels. Are schools adequately serving all students if they prepare them all as if college is their future? (Do all students benefit from studying "Julius Caesar"?) As an answer to such problems, "tracking" is another aspect of preparing students for college. Tracking, a controversial yet standard trend in high schools, separates students into different levels. Simply put, students are low, medium or high-normally just with fancier labels.

High schools should prepare students for higher education, which includes college.
Every American who wants to attend college should have the chance. Americans should also pursue other forms of higher education outside of college. As the Summit of Community Colleges meets, lets too focus on their question of "what is the best way to help students succeed?" Society should not assume success is simply a four-year program.

Photo Credit: Steve Cadman