Interview with Dr. Lauren McClanahan, Professor of Secondary Education, Western Washington University

This morning Katy and I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Lauren McClanahan, a professor at the local university. We asked questions that concerned the likelihood of students being accepted into college with prior career training in earlier years of schooling, as well as the ways in which a college would be positively and negatively affected by our proposed reform. In this interview, we received thorough and genuine responses that reflected the educational reality in America.

Question 1: In what ways would the college be positively effected by an educational reform such as this?

Students would be entering with better basic skills to succeed in their classes. Writing skills are lacking among incoming students, but reading, writing, and math could all benefit from the opportunities presented in this reform. 

Question 2: In what ways would the college be negatively effected by an educational reform such as this?

Students would begin to think that they do not need college to succeed after high school due to the prior vocational training. This would result in a dramatic decrease in college enrollment, which would cause many colleges to shut down, and that could lead to other societal problems. 

Question 3: In what ways would the likelihood of acceptance into the school be increased for prospective students?

Their chances would definitely be increased because they would start their college education with more sufficient skills and possible college credit.

Question 4: In what ways would the likelihood of acceptance in to the school be decreased for prospective students?

I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't be accepted in to the school with prior preparatory classes.

Question 5: Would you be for or against this reform?

Because of the cultural and economic diversity within America that is not seen in countries such as France and Germany, this reform would be extremely difficult to adopt. It is a fact that "poverty is the number one indicator of school success in the United States." I agree that the removal of vocational classes is a mistake in the American school system. They were first removed in order to fund more literacy and math programs, and while that is a positive step, we still are not seeing great improvements in those areas. Now the students graduate with limited academic AND vocational skills!  There has to be a better way.

Thank you Dr. McClanahan!