RE: Vision and Purpose of Education

The authors of the current master plan seem to feel that the purpose of a k-12 education is to prepare people to go on to the university. As a person who holds two masters degrees, I have nothing against higher educationhowever, there should be allowance for the fact that this is not the choice everyone wishes to make. The master plan currently advocates that there should be one tract in high schools and that it should prepare all students to enter college. While I am in agreement that all students should have access to high standard English, math, science and foreign language, college is not the only life option.

In light of all the current research regarding multiple intelligences, it is interesting that the master plan for education and financing for educational policies seem to favor only those students with a fully academic vent. For many years there has been little or no funding for art, music, home economics, or vocational education at the high school or elementary school levels. A true liberal education would allow for the option of becoming homemakers or pursuing a vocational and/or business career after high school as well as making sure that students, should they choose to do so, are fully prepared to attend college.