Gery Chico, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at City Colleges, told the Sun-Times editorial board last week, "There are too many people coming from schools unprepared in the rigors of math, reading and writing to succeed at the college level."
On July 30th, I posted a blog, “The Test Scores Are Still Failing Numbers,” where I castigated Mayor Daley for touting high school ACT test numbers that, while rising, are still pathetic. I wrote, “With the exception of community colleges, a student cannot expect to gain entrance to an institution of higher education with an American College Testing (ACT) score lower than 20; that means that 75.6% of CPS students do not have scores high enough to attend and succeed in college.”
I also pointed out that since City Colleges have an open admission policy, “…basically anybody who is breathing and older than 18 years of age can attend. Since the graduation rates range from 3.4% at Harold Washington College to 13% at Malcolm X, we’ve answered the question of whether the students perform better after they leave high school. NO! They still do not succeed. So Chicago students fail miserably in high school and the trend continues at the Chicago-run colleges.”
Now Chico is evaluating whether the colleges’ “open-door” admissions policy needs to be overhauled. He also told the editorial board, "There are too many people coming from schools unprepared in the rigors of math, reading and writing to succeed at the college level. City Colleges is spending about $30 million a year on "basic remediation" classes. It's an expense that takes away from preparing other students to move on to four-year schools or learn skills that will help them get good jobs. It's a re-do, if you will. And it's not what we want to be in the business of doing."
Might unprepared students be rejected?
"Not sure yet," Chico said. "But I'll tell you one thing: The Mayor and I are looking at not being a completely wide open, walk-in place."
Good for Chico!! Until someone admits failure, can they hope to succeed!
When it is possible for any student of any ability to be admitted, it is unfair to the students who do meet the standards because the education process will sink to the lowest common denominator. Professors cannot be effective teachers if the scholar is not scholarly.
If a student does not have basic reading, writing and math skills they are doomed to failure. That is obvious. Remediation courses should be offered and taken before the student enters college, so they will have a chance to succeed.
I have guest lectured at Harold Washington College and have been astounded at the lack of fundamental skills of the students. These undergraduates are not stupid, they are just underachievers. They are knowledgeable in social media, so it proves they can learn.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” City Colleges have failed in the past; I know we can rely on Chico’s hard work to make them succeed.
Liz writes:
ReplyDelete"Good points, Kathy. My brother is a teacher (one of the best in his field in the past century, actually). He is a tireless critic of open admission policies. They hurt the children that they are supposed to be helping and they have the potential to hurt many other children because those open admission colleges churn out teachers who are woefully unprepared to be in a classroom. There are exceptions of course, but overall it is a recipe for failure. Actually, it is a recipe for generations of failure."
Sharon writes:
ReplyDelete"I like Mr. Chico, but please remember that he was the President of the Chicago Board of Education for many years. We know where that got us -- Paul Valles, too. Enough said.
As for the Sun-Times, which has become half-baked, what does being a deadbeat crook have to do with selling steak and prime rib? Especially when the taxpayers will foot the bill, plus 20% tip.
This city really works! Our bond rating is a disaster and the Mayor brushes it off like so much dandruff. Maybe if these scam artists paid their bills, and the city cashed the checks, we would not be in this mess."
Jane writes:
ReplyDelete"I LIKE Chico! I wish he were the mayor! I like the idea of stopping the practice of allowing unprepared students to attend the City Colleges. The exception should be English as a Second language students. They have nowhere else to turn and are QUICK learners. Truman College is the best for ESL. Wright is good, too."