Other Ways to Win: Creating Alternatives for High School Graduates

By Kenneth C. Gray and Edwin L. Herr

Book Overview

High school students in the "academic middle" are at a great disadvantage when graduation time comes. In terms of traditional career paths, their futures aren′t bright. Today′s labor market is uncertain and difficult. Tuition costs for traditional four-year colleges have soared out of reach for many students. And the academic records of these students will greatly limit their likelihood of acceptance and, therefore, their options for further education. But there are promising alternatives. And that′s the good-news message from authors Gray and Herr. This timely book explores the choices available to students beyond traditional four-year colleges, options that carry a much higher probability of success and are more accessible for students in the academic middle. The authors discuss the long-held "one way to win" theory and analyze why it is no longer working. Using information gained by studying the experiences of secondary and postsecondary students, Gray and Herr document the clear and immediate need to help students regain control of their futures. They explain the importance of learning relevant occupational skills and explore alternative avenues for training, such as one- and two-year postsecondary technical institutions and work-based programs sponsored by employers and employee groups. Other Ways to Win presents three major steps that schools or districts can take to modify school programs in order to create viable options for students. It shows specific strategies designed to involve teachers, parents, and students in the process of better preparing students for graduation and for the workplace. All students, regardless of their academic or financial backgrounds, deserve the opportunity to succeed. This resource can help make it happen. Every principal, every guidance counselor, and every school reference library should have at least one copy of this indispensable book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803962460
• ISBN13: 9780803962460
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Corwin
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Educators--Take Note

This book should be required reading for high school and middle school teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. (And it wouldn't hurt for the elementary school educators to read it, either.) It is also recommended for parents who are concerned about the types of curriculums offered in high schools today.Gray and Herr say that the "one way to win" (i.e, the four-year college education) does not work for all students -- particularly many in what they call the academic middle. They say that many of these students enter four-year colleges ill prepared. They end up taking many remedial courses their first year, many do not finish college, and end up with high student loan debt.They recommend that students start to prepare a career plan in middle school or the first year in high school. Such plans should include a realistic assessment of the student's abilities to undertake a four-year college program. For many students, moving into one and two-year certificate and associate degree programs which lead to highly skilled, highly paying jobs would be a better alternative than a four-year college. Other students would benefit from a school-to-work transition program.In short, Gray and Herr say that the current academic system is failing many students, and we need to look at alternatives to help students succeed.