What’s the point of high school?
When posed in this fashion, without context, this question seems rather light hearted, perhaps a bit rhetorical. But it is not. The question is one of sober seriousness.
Let’s be clear for a moment on the mission of our public high school system: to make sure that our students are prepared for postsecondary education, training and the workforce without the need for remediation. When stated that simply, it seems reasonable, practical and even noble. More than that, it seems obvious: of course, we want to prepare our kids to take the next step in their lives, whether that step is into college or into the workforce. Whatever their decisions, they need to be prepared and empowered to make the choice: we owe our students at least that much.
Prepared for: Senate Standing Committee on Education, Hearing on Senate Bill 1731
Testimony by: Russlynn Ali, Director, The Education Trust West
Published: April 2, 2002
