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EDUCATION ISSUES
The GOOD, the BAD & the UGLY
SLS SYSTEM – STUDY SKILLS for Your Success in School
No Matter: the Class…, the Teacher, Instructor, Professor…, the School…, the Grade...
www.yoursuccessinschool.com
We Teach You How to Study and Learn – – We Give You many Tools to Do It! – 24/7, 365
SLS TOOLBOX
* Study Skill Books teach students strategies to study and learn from any teacher, instructor, professor, school setting
* Web Sites teach students reading, writing, search & research skills, how to use Study Strategies, learn school subjects
* Multi-Sensory Tools teach students powerful ways to learn, recall ideas and manage school issues and demands
* Internet Apps & Tools teach students skills to get organized, network, collaborate with others, prepare for a career
> These Web Sites, Internet Apps and Tools coordinate with Strategies in SLS Study Skill Books
If we're going to deal with the education of our children, we need to know where we stand and how are children are
affected by what's happening at school and what's happening with other students our children go to school with.
High School Students only have 2 Million Minutes to prepare for higher education or a job/career
Students in the USA are in competition with students from other countries – but often don't know it
How one parent is changing what he does for his children's education
Today's world changes and competition demand that students and workders develop new Skills for Tomorrow's jobs.
SEE Videos: Shift Happens; Shift Happens - 2009; Did You Know 2.0; Did You Know 4.0; Did You Know - Capital
SLS helps Students develop many of the skills they Need to Succeed!
The GOOD – There are some Good things happening in Education today. More students are getting an education than
before and more students are going to college.
The BAD – As good as some things are, there are some Bad things going on in Education we must be aware of if we are
going to know how to help our children
The UGLY – There are some Ugly things we often would rather not talk about with our children's education.
The GOOD NEWS
78 - 89% of high school seniors graduate with a diploma – Caucasians & Asians have the highest graduation rates
Elementary school students (grades 1 - 6) score as well or better on standardized tests than most students of the same
grades in other countries
The USA has some of the best Universities in the world that train our future generations – students from the USA and
from other countries. USA education encourages critical thinking, experimentation and creativity
More students than ever are going to college to get a college degree, license, certificate, certification, etc.
College admission is up 25-30% since 1971.
25 - 31% of high school graduates go to college, more than ever before in the USA (4-year colleges)
There are more than 14 million college students today
There are 10 million students going to Community Colleges these days (2006) – many of them are adults returning to
college to further their career or change careers
The average literacy of college students is higher than the average of most people in the USA
Most college students can do research using the internet, books, maps, documents better than most people in the USA
More 4-year colleges and universities are offering evening, weekend classes and summer classes to help adult
students and help college age students complete degrees sooner
There are more private colleges, tech & trade schools offering certificate, license, certification programs than ever
before – more students are getting higher education after high school
There are more classes, conferences, workshops & trainings offered in many more formats: in school classes,
weekend classes, night classes, live and taped classes on the Internet and on computer, in books, magazines, booklets,
pamphlets, e-books, audio CDs and downloads, videos so teens, young and older adult students can learn ideas and
advance in his or her education
More adults are getting more education and higher education for their job and career – to advance in or change careers
74% of full time college students work while in school (US News & World Report – April 17, 2006)
20% of full-time college students work full-time while in school (US News & World Report – April 17, 2006)
All of this means that more students are getting a college degree and higher education so there are more students
with higher education who can compete with other workers in the USA and around the world. Not everyone needs
a 4-year college/university education or degree. More students need to complete some higher education training after
higher school to compete in today's and tomorrow's world – the Knowledge Society
Many students need better Study Skills to help them with school work to reduce how long it takes to study school
subjects and do college work and graduate
Back to the Top
The BAD NEWS with USA Students:
> Though 49 - 89% (average is 70%) of USA High School Seniors graduate with a diploma after 4 years in High School,
some high schools don't even graduate 50% of their High School seniors. (2007)
> Only 25 -28% of those who graduate from high school go to college (most who go to a 4-year college are female) So
70 - 75% of high school graduates don't go to college (especially minority students)
> 25% of High School students drop out of High School (Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians have the lowest
graduation rates – only 50% of them graduate) 1.2 million students fail to graduate each year (2008)
> There are 2,000 USA High School that have 1/2 of all drop outs (most of them are minority students)
> 17 of the Largest USA cities graduate 50% of high school students - 1.2 million dropouts per year in high school
> 40% of High School Dropouts do not have a ready steady job at 24 years old
> 65% of those in prison did not graduate from High School
> The USA High School graduation rate ranks only 13th among Industrial Countries (some say 19th) (2008)
> The USA College graduation rate ranks only 15th among Industrial Countries (2008)
> More than 50% of those who start in a Community College do not finish with a degree, license, certificate, etc.
They drop out and don’t return (they have financial problems, must work, are not prepared, get distracted, etc.)
> 30-40% of students who go to a 4-year college don’t return in their 2nd or 3rd year (lack money, school is too hard,
they're not prepared, they don’t have a direction, they transfer). They don't get a degree (2008)
> 30 - 43% of students who go to a 4-year college don’t graduate with a degree (lack money, school is too hard,
they're not prepared, they don’t have a direction). (2008)
> Many students who graduate from High School cannot read or write well & are not prepared for the demands and
needs of a job, career, college or a higher education (blacks and latino graduates often read at an 8th grade level)
> Many students who graduate from college with a degree can't read, write or handle math to the level that many
businesses and corporations need. Workers are not prepared for the demands of the jobs
65% of California High School students who graduate do graduate on time – but 35% do not graduate on time
Studies show students stay interested in school up to about the 6th grade. Then many students' interest in school start to
drop off in 7th grade. Some students loose all interest in school and education. They don’t know how what they learn
in school can be used at a job or how it helps make sense of their life or why it matters (This is why the SLS Study Skills
System begins with books for students in Middle School)
Middle School Students (7th & 8th graders) scores are lower than student scores from many other countries in
standardized tests. For 15 year olds (sophomores), the USA ranks 27th in science and 24th in math among students
in industrialized countries (2008). Students from other countries are better prepared for higher education
Less than 40% of high school student take any kind of science class more rigorous or challenging than biology.
Lots of students only take what gets them by. 18% of students take advanced classes in chemistry, physics or biology.
Only 45% of students take more math than the 2 algebra and 1 geometry class most students take.
This means few students are ready to take harder classes in college in science, math and technology that requires
math skills and a knowledge of science. USA students can't complete well in college with students from other countries
who take these advanced classes in their country or in USA schools. More medical degrees and careers now require
advanced math classes like calculus, and trigonometry. If high school students are not prepared in science and math
classes, they have a harder time in college and drop out of college, don't get majors and degrees in a science, technology
or medical field or other fields that require math or science (business, MBA, etc.). Students change to majors that are
easier and don't develop the skills they need later in life to get them ahead or compete with other workers.
Many Middle and High School students miss class 15% of the time – in 9 months of school (180 days) they miss 27
days, 3 times a month on average. This hurts students since they miss a teacher's explanations of ideas and school
subjects so the student looses interest since what they hear when they do go doesn't make much sense. This also hurts
the school since it looses money for its budget from the government since the student is not in school
Studies show that missing school 15% of the time can lower grades by 40% so students who miss so much and get
Ds and Fs might get C– or Cs if they just showed up most of the time; Students who get Ds and Cs might get Bs and As
if they went to all the classes. This is why going to school can help students
Studies show most K-12 students forget about 30 - 60% what they learned in school during the 3 month summer
vacation. They never learned it well and often learned only for a test. This is why the first few weeks of school in August
or September are often a review. Reviewing so much takes time away from really teaching students and giving them all
the information they need to succeed. It can hurt smart students since they are not learning as much as they could
Lots of students get use to spending a lot of class time reviewing and don’t develop long-term memories since they
don’t have to. That doesn't help them when they deal with the learning, reading and writing demands of higher education.
They learn only what they must. They don't develop an appreciation for learning ideas and what to do with them.
Studies find that many High School minority students who do graduate from high school are 4 years behind White &
Asian graduates in their abilities to read, write and handle math (3Rs). Many Black high school graduates read at about a
9th grade level.
Studies find that many USA College graduates do not know as much about the world, about history, math, literature,
culture, etc. as those who graduate from other countries (China, India, European schools, etc.) and don't have as much a
depth of knowledge about the degree or major they got when they graduated
Studies find that for minority students who do not graduate from high school with a diploma, 75% of them live in poverty;
They are 25x more likely to be on Medicaid later in life; 60% have been jailed at least once in their 20's (jail or prison).
Studies show that 70% of those who go to prison eventually go back to prison at least once more (especially since they
still hang around the same friends who got them in trouble or they feel the same pressure from the same friends who got
them in trouble).
Studies find that those who go to jail or have a jail or prison record have a harder time getting and keeping a job in
today’s economy (this includes DUI, drug problems, theft, burglary, domestic violence, fighting, etc.)
Being so unprepared for life discourages many students so they don’t try to get more education or they don’t advance
very well in their jobs. They see a normal frustration, obstacle or problem as something personally done to them. They
see it as racism, sexism or prejudice so they strike out at others, complain, blame others or just give up. It’s easier
to blame others than figure out a way through the problem. They don't learn how to work through problems, overcome
obstacles that many other people learn. They get stuck and don't trust or believe others who try to help them find a way
80% of those who apply to 4-year college can do the basic work – they were high school A & B students. Many don't
finish college since they're distracted, get into trouble or have other problems (drugs, alcohol, pregnant, arrested, etc.)
20% of those who apply to a 4-year college are 'iffy' about being able to do college work – some do and some don’t
do well in college and many drop out when it gets hard.
30% of those who apply to college are not prepared for college life outside of class and structure of going to class –
what to do with free time, how to study, how to handle friends, how to study for hard subjects, parties, etc.
50% of those who do get into college require and need remedial or catch-up help to be able to handle a college
workload. That means how they were taught to study was not good enough in high school. How well they were taught
school subjects in high school did not prepare them for the demands of a college education.
Many college graduates brag that they did not take any math or science classes in college. They graduated but are
not prepared to work and get ahead in today's world that needs well trained and well rounded leaders and workers.
50% of 4-Year College students lack the skills to handle complex real life tasks – **as understand credit card offers,
analyze news stories, understand documents, have the math skills to handle checkbooks or restaurant tips.
75% of Community College students lack the skills to handle complex real life tasks – as above**
*This Means – We must get students better ready for college or other higher education and training schooling by
making sure they learn good study skills
Back to the Top
The UGLY
Students only have a limited amount of time to get the foundation of education they need in Today's World!
An hour has 60 minutes; there are 24 hours in a day – 60 x 24 = 1440 minutes in a day
A day has 1440 minutes; there are 365 days in a year – 1440 x 365 = 525,600 minutes in a year
A year has 525,600 minutes; there are 4 years of High School – 525,600 x 4 = 2,102,400 minutes in 4 years
Once students start high school, they only have 2 million minutes to get prepared to handle life. In 4 years, students
move from being minor teens to adults under the law and many of them start lives of their own on their own. Most don't get
a higher education right away. See www.2mminutes.com
Teens must learn many things in 4 years to get a foundation to handle their lives – make more of their own decisions,
handle the consequences of those decisions, handle their feelings, their body and how they think, examine the rules they
have learned and decide what works and what doesn't work, deal with others and relationships outside the family, learn all
they need in school to handle their work life and any higher education they get (community college, career & professional
school, trade and technology school, 4-year college & university)
Many USA students who finish high school are unprepared for the available jobs or for the military
Many Hispanic students don't learn to speak Spanish well or at all and never learn to speak English very well
Many Black students don' learn to speak Standard English very well and use too much slang
Those who drop out of high school earn about $17,000 per year on average (2008)
Most USA Middle and High School students need study skills to get them through school and get ready for some kind
of higher education. Many high school seniors don’t think about getting higher education since they don’t have good
grades, good study skills and can’t handle a college load.
Many USA students who go to a 1-3 year Community College, Trade & Technology School, Professional or Career School
or even a 4-year Private College drop out because they can’t handle the workload. They’re Unprepared for the
demands of higher education. They need study skills help so they can succeed
Many students who do go to college are unprepared for college & other educational or training programs
Many college students often take 5 - 7 years to finish a 4-year college degree
Many Community college students take 3 - 6 years to finish a 1-3 year Community college degree, license, certificate
or certification. Many never finish at all
Taking a lot longer to get a degree and finish educational training costs students a lot (tuition, fees, parking, food, books,
rent, meals, loans, etc.) since they keep paying all these costs each additional semester or quarter
The longer it takes a student to finish school, they get a Triple Set-Back:
a) They rack up more debt the longer they're in school
b) It takes longer to get a good or better job or a raise since they haven't finished a degree, license, etc.
c) They work longer at the same salary since they don't get a higher salary from a new job or advancement in their
career while others are advancing – it's easy to fall behind fast when you're not prepared
This debt discourages many students from continuing in school & finishing school. When they don't finish school, the
classes they took are not as valuable to employers. Most employers want to see a finished degree, license, certificate or
certification, with the talent and ability workers have. Lots of people have 'some college'. Better jobs go to those who
'finished college' with a degree, license, certificate, certification! Many also get better promotions faster
Once they drop out of school, many never return. Even when they go back to school as adults, many have a hard
time trying to handle the training and education they need to succeed in Today's World!
If students do not learn good study and and learning strategies in school, when their grades drop (often Middle
School or High School age) they don't know how to get back on track. They aren't prepared to handle the demands of a
4-year college & university or other higher education – Community College, Tech/Trade school, Voc Ed, performance,
professional and career schools, etc. They don't get the higher education they need; If they get higher education, they
take a long time to finish a degree, they get a degree that does not make them enough money to pay for student debt or
some of them drop out and don't get the degree.
Student must learn how to handle school subjects and training classes to succeed Today, though they have favorite
subjects and don't like others. Other students in the world do what it takes to succeed and get the job done!
Some cultural attitudes in the USA do not value education as they say. Parents may say they want their children
to get a good education but many parents do not encourage education in their house and family regularly.
Parents don't regularly – Make sure homework is done and done right, help with homework, go to school meetings,
help out at school, get extra help for students, talk often about going to college or other higher education, visit colleges
with their children, go fairs and festivals at colleges, have reading materials (books, newspapers, magazines, newsletters)
at home, read often on their own, read with or to their children, take their children on educational trips, etc.
If our future workers have a Limited Education, Training & Abilities
Business and companies can't keep up, compete or advance in the global economy
Business who can't compete will downsize or go out of business – lots of workers loose jobs
Businesses will offshore some work and get more workers from other countries
Businesses and companies will spend more money to train workers so businesses lose money
1) The time it takes a business to train workers in what they should have already learned keeps workers from
being productive at work and t his costs real dollars to the business
2) The money spent to train workers costs the company more which decreases their profit
3) Some workers can't handle the rigors of getting more training so they quit. This costs the company money
it invested in the worker – supervisor time, attention and training, production slow down until the workers catch up
to a good level of performance
Personal income gets depressed (it goes down or stays down) since there are many more lower income workers to
choose from
More workers will need government assistance if they don't get good jobs or quit jobs often – though we should all use
help when we need it, if too many people use it too often it taxes and drags the economy and we are all badly affected
Families can't enjoy as good a lifestyle or achieve an American dream as easily
Parents with limited education may not motivate or know how to help their teens get motivated to get higher education
Without enough education and training, there will not be enough workers earning enough money to support the SSI
system (Social Security). This will badly affect the government and economy.
Studies show that more workers need more study and learning skills and strategies in today's work world than ever
before (good writing, handling a budget, reading reports, making summaries of information, talking to a group or team,
working with a group, writing well to other companies, planning, scheduling, making plans and achieving goals, etc.)
More workers at many levels of a business, organization, non-profit or government agency or job must know how to
communicate well with others in other parts of this country or other parts of the world.
We can't depend on the schools as much; we can't depend on a life long secure job; we can't depend on a company
that will take care of us. We must learn to take more care of our own future.
In Today's world, we must take more control and responsibility for our own education, training, learning abilities.
Today we must Learn to Learn – ideas, new methods, strategies, skills, abilities. To get this done, we must develop and
practice good study and learning skills – reading, writing, math, clear thinking, reasoning, etc.
Today, more students need to learn the study skills that the SLS System has for teen, young and older adult students
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