PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 30, 2012
/24-7PressRelease/ -- An article written by Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein, President of The College of New Jersey, and published by The Huffington Post posits there is a significant difference between the educational aspects of training for a job and planning for a career. The idea caught the attention of experienced high school science teacher
Christopher Merrall.
Throughout the piece, Dr. Gitenstein reflects upon the responsibility institutions of higher education have to consider the needs of the employment sector when creating and enhancing academic courses of study. She goes on to argue, however, that advanced college degrees require students graduate with skill sets meant to serve them over the course of a lifetime.
In the article, the author contends the educational process that culminates in a college degree lends itself to an overall awareness that serves students throughout their lives. She goes on to argue that educators must prepare students for the best jobs available to them rather than prepare them only for the first job they accept. Through the well-rounded skill set developed via advanced education, students should be able to positively respond to global economic woes.
In response to this viewpoint, Christopher Merrall commented: "Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein contends the benefits of a four-year degree far exceed simply learning to 'perform a task that will garner a decent wage.' As a holder of a number of post-secondary degrees myself, I must most heartily agree. However, I believe that if colleges and universities wish to remain relevant as we progress into the 21st century, they should reflect on how their role as educators may have to evolve to meet the needs of those individuals for whom a traditional bachelor degree is not necessarily a required career imperative."
Notably, whole-heartedly subscribing to policy decisions that consider education at the college level akin only to job training could lead to problems. In her piece, Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein suggests such a narrow viewpoint disregards the value higher education provides in preparing students to adapt to the changes they are certain to experience as the future unfolds.
ABOUT:
Christopher Merrall is a high school science teacher with over 15 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Connecticut. Christopher holds Connecticut Teacher Professional Certifications in Biology (030), Chemistry (031) and General Science (034). In 2007, he was named The Norwich Free Academy Teacher of the Year. In addition to teaching Science, Christopher also served the school as the boy's freshman and junior varsity soccer coach and music club advisor.
Website:
http://christophermerrall.net---
Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com# # #
