The article brings
up a few good points revolving around the issue of the inability of
students to attain entrance into the “elite” colleges and its
effects and parental influences on college goals. Coming from a
South Asian family, my sisters and I were given a list of career
options at an early age that were deemed acceptable to my parents.
Pursuing a career that was not on the list was seen as a failure on
my parents behalf. Furthermore, certain courses were stressed to
attain the specified career, particularly Mathematics and Sciences.
I recall wanting to take Physical Education throughout high school,
however my parents discouraged me from taking the course, telling me
there was no value in such a course for my career.
I think we live in
a time where school education is not as valued as it once was. I did
my undergraduate in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto –
a top ranked program in top ranked school. However, approximately
10% of my graduating class still could not find employment upon
graduation and 5 years later. This information is not advertised by
the University.
What I think is
valued is the ability to network, to sell oneself. This, I believe
is true for the majority of the population. When we look at the
upper 0.1% of the population, creativity and knowledge is required,
but for almost everyone else, it is “who you know” that will lead
to success.
I do not think we
should have students learning to network though, as it will stunt
creativity and knowledge attainment. Our education system should
push creativity and knowledge so students find happiness in their
work and life.
-Ragu
-Ragu
2 comments:
i really like your comments, Ragu!
Doug
Hi Ragu,
Your comment on how a very small number of graduates from U of T actually found jobs rings a bell-that was my exact experience graduating from the BEd. program not too long ago~.
I remember how during it was required of all applicants to fill out this lengthy, quite intense application about our teaching experience. We were also given a series of questions (quite intimidating) to see if we really made the cut. Yes, there was a cut-we were told that out of 3500 applicants, only 400-ish would be accepted into the program. Why? Because it was one of those 'elite' programs that everyone was trying to get into. Now, please don't misunderstand me, I am very grateful to have been accepted and given the opportunity. The program was quite good and the professors are exceptional. Yet, I wanted to make a point that even at our university, there is still a notion that we are the 'best' university in town (you need a certain GPA to get in, of course) and that like the BEd program, we have many programs that only a certain 'elite' or special groups of students can get into. Like you said, at the end of it all, the employment opportunities among graduates from the program were NOT anywhere near what we expected.
That's my two-cents!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Cheers,
Amira :)
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