2008 Woodie Awards
ALL THE NEWS THAT GIVES US FITS: Access Does Not Equal Intelligence
Katharine Anderson
Issue date: 5/25/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Not too long ago, I was subjected to an hour-long diatribe from my boss about the marvels of a degree from a four-year university. That is, one earned by attending all four years at the university as opposed to one finished after transferring from a community college.
He actually insinuated that the blessed four-year attendees are smarter than lowly community college transfer students. He insinuated that these individuals are better suited to fill the executive positions in the business world and that less-fortunate community college attendees should look to them for guidance and knowledge.
I was absolutely appalled.
Many community college students possess the drive, ambition and desire to become as, or even more successful than, their four-year university counterparts.
Just look at NASA pilot Eileen Collins. Or former Texas Supreme Court Justice Robert Gammage. Or two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, a Valley College alum. These are just three of the wildly successful individuals who began their academic careers at community colleges.
The one thing many community college students lack is the opportunity to enroll directly into the university. Does this make them less intelligent?
Absolutely not.
They instead have to work hard, maintain good grades and then try to transfer.
The biases associated with community college educations have no basis in reality. The fact that many students do not have the opportunity to begin at a four-year university does not mean the quality of their education is inferior. According to several studies, most educators at community colleges have the same, if not better, credentials as those at universities.
Think of it this way: There are two doctors available to treat you. One of them has graduated from a prestigious university and carries all of those beautiful certificates to adorn his wall and tell you how smart he is.
But, you discover that throughout his academic carreer, the highest GPA he carried was a 2.8. The other doctor attended community college and then transferred all the way to up to medical school, graduating at the top of the class with a 3.95 GPA.
Which doctor do you want to treat you?
When my life is on the line, I want the doctor that worked hard and learned everything he could to be a better physician, not the one who skated by because he could.
Don't you?
He actually insinuated that the blessed four-year attendees are smarter than lowly community college transfer students. He insinuated that these individuals are better suited to fill the executive positions in the business world and that less-fortunate community college attendees should look to them for guidance and knowledge.
I was absolutely appalled.
Many community college students possess the drive, ambition and desire to become as, or even more successful than, their four-year university counterparts.
Just look at NASA pilot Eileen Collins. Or former Texas Supreme Court Justice Robert Gammage. Or two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, a Valley College alum. These are just three of the wildly successful individuals who began their academic careers at community colleges.
The one thing many community college students lack is the opportunity to enroll directly into the university. Does this make them less intelligent?
Absolutely not.
They instead have to work hard, maintain good grades and then try to transfer.
The biases associated with community college educations have no basis in reality. The fact that many students do not have the opportunity to begin at a four-year university does not mean the quality of their education is inferior. According to several studies, most educators at community colleges have the same, if not better, credentials as those at universities.
Think of it this way: There are two doctors available to treat you. One of them has graduated from a prestigious university and carries all of those beautiful certificates to adorn his wall and tell you how smart he is.
But, you discover that throughout his academic carreer, the highest GPA he carried was a 2.8. The other doctor attended community college and then transferred all the way to up to medical school, graduating at the top of the class with a 3.95 GPA.
Which doctor do you want to treat you?
When my life is on the line, I want the doctor that worked hard and learned everything he could to be a better physician, not the one who skated by because he could.
Don't you?
