Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Blowing Smoke
The effrontery of the June 18 New College response to the WASC Special Investigation Team Report helps to explain the scathing tone of the July 5 letter from WASC to then president Martin Hamilton. Not only do the trustees blow off WASC's documented misfeasance at the school, but they then attempted to blow smoke up the Commission's collective behinds.
As an example, the college's explanation that the waiver of the three-page written personal statement for admission was obviated by including it as part of the curriculum that included tutoring in writing and study skills -- also used as justification for awarding extra credits -- only reveals what a sham the school was pulling in order to milk the 80 PHLUTE students for tuition fees.
While we have no objection to remedial tutoring for those who did not receive adequate college preparation in high school, we do object to taking advantage of ill-prepared students to bolster college budgets. The proper time to offer lessons in basic writing and study skills is prior to college enrollment. That's why the personal statement tool is used. Asking students to pay private college tuition rates for what they should have received free in K-12 is unfair to those now paying back exorbitant student loans, as is obtaining college level credit for learning to read and write.
If the school administrators really wanted to help disadvantaged students go to college, they could become involved with centers like 826Valencia in providing
programs for that purpose--not in conning people into thinking they've found a short cut to college credentials. In reality, that shell game does no one any good.
As an example, the college's explanation that the waiver of the three-page written personal statement for admission was obviated by including it as part of the curriculum that included tutoring in writing and study skills -- also used as justification for awarding extra credits -- only reveals what a sham the school was pulling in order to milk the 80 PHLUTE students for tuition fees.
While we have no objection to remedial tutoring for those who did not receive adequate college preparation in high school, we do object to taking advantage of ill-prepared students to bolster college budgets. The proper time to offer lessons in basic writing and study skills is prior to college enrollment. That's why the personal statement tool is used. Asking students to pay private college tuition rates for what they should have received free in K-12 is unfair to those now paying back exorbitant student loans, as is obtaining college level credit for learning to read and write.
If the school administrators really wanted to help disadvantaged students go to college, they could become involved with centers like 826Valencia in providing
programs for that purpose--not in conning people into thinking they've found a short cut to college credentials. In reality, that shell game does no one any good.
