What does it mean to be ready for college and/or career? That’s one of the issues the Evanston Township District 202 High School Board will be wrestling with as it conducts a formal review of its goals this year.
The board touched on the matter briefly this week, as it discussed a nationally circulated report from Harvard University that suggests that too much emphasis is placed on test scores and not enough on community service and diversity issues when colleges pick among its applicants each year.
The report, Turning the tide: Inspiring concern for others and the Common Good through College Admissions, is expected to mark a sea change in the criteria used by the nation’s leading colleges and universities in selecting their students for enrollment.
Because a major goal of ETHS is to prepare its students for both college and career, it could dramatically affect the curriculum and school activities offered.
Already, the school focusses a great deal of attention on community service and diversity issues, as those are an integral part of daily life in Evanston.
As board member Gretchen Livingston put it: “These are exciting developments that we have been talking about for some time.”
Peter Bavis, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, also brought to the board’s attention a report by AASA, the School Superintendent’s Association, which recommends the use of multiple specific measures to assess and demonstrate college and career readiness.
“Both of these developments,” declared Bavis, “could impact our goals and measures” at ETHS.
Keeping kids in their plastic bubbles?
Just read the "sea change" of a report. Under the heading "Authentic, Meaningful Experiences with Diversity" the final sentence reads "Importantly, these experiences of diversity should be carefully constructed and facilitated." Yes, very authentic and meaningful. (executive summary, page 3). Just another way to try to keep kids in their plastic bubbles, seeing the world translucently, but not really being able to interact with it.