No Surprise

As I was reading an article in the Salt Lake Tribune this morning on the topic of education in the state of Utah, I came across this quote:

"...only about 27 percent of Utah high school students who take the [ACT] exam score high enough in all four tested subjects to be considered ready for college and careers. About half of the students entering Utah’s open enrollment colleges have to take remedial classes, and only about 58 percent of the University of Utah’s freshmen graduate within six years of starting, a relatively low rate compared with similar institutions across the nation."   

Really?  And this surprises anyone?  The entire article can be found HERE if you are interested in reading the entire story.  They highlight one charter school in the article and how they have managed a higher success rate with graduation as well as test scores.  If you haven't ever tried to get into a charter school in Utah, you don't understand how stressful it can be...it's a lottery!  The only pull you get is if you have another child enrolled in the school.  I tried to get Riley into two charter schools that are located less than 1 mile from our house in either direction.  There are at least 3 charter schools just in Draper alone!  Makes you wonder why charter schools are so popular?  It's because it's FREE and you get a much better education than the regular public school.  So basically you get the advantage of a public school without paying a cent!  You can imagine the demand at enrollment time.  

When we decide educating our children is really important to us as a society, then maybe we'll have more schools like these charter schools or private institutions.  Then we'll have more parents who value a quality education and encourage children to do their best and be accountable for their education.  As for us (and you all know how difficult it is to satisfy me being a former teacher) we will most likely be paying to educate our children until they are 22 years old.  How sad is that?  But it's the one gift I want to give our kids - a quality education.  It's one my parents made sure that I had and I appreciate that they valued education.  My kids will know how important knowledge is to their futures.  Whether they choose to go to college or into a trade - it won't be because they couldn't get into a good college, it will be because that's what best suits their needs and desires.

Okay...getting off my soap box now.