A Nice Post, In Preparation For Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Thursday. Right there I’ve got issues. I also get to give up after-school time to discuss this year’s plan for next year’s APN, the ever-popular, much-beloved class I teach with Gillian Hart. Talk about looking forward to the future . . .
Today we had a short meeting during our conference period to talk about next year’s scheduling process, which is old hat to me, but newbies should learn the deal, and there’s always something (minor, major) to be learned anyway for all of us. And, our school’s push–actually, I’m sure it’s a district desire, too–is the same as before, with students keeping their A-G eligibility. A through G, simply, is getting a C-grade or better in your classes. There are some exceptions, but staying eligible means the school looks better and the student can attend a 4-yr university straight out of high school. The latter is a big deal to our district in the form of looking better in the community and giving all kids the opportunity to attend college.
The push started years ago when we were told (or given–I can’t remember) data that out of 100 junior college kids who, as freshmen, had an expressed interest in transferring to a 4-yr university . . . only four (4) out of that 100 actually did transfer. 100 kids, all seeking transfer to a 4-yr school, only 4 end up going. I had a hard time believing that data then, and a really hard time now.
I just saw Brooke Matson this weekend at the Comedy and Magic Club. After three years at El Camino College, she got accepted to all the good California schools, chose Cal Poly SLO, and is a graduate.
I used to hear from all these former students who went to “just” El Camino, who put in their time and transferred and graduated from a 4-yr. I did the same. Gillian Hart did the same. One of my loyal readers spent about 10 years at Long Beach City College, ended up graduating quickly from UCLA, and now is studying law in Portland.
Alan Corales spent three years at El Camino, but he’s at UCLA. Michael Oliver went to East LA JC, might have played football, but then graduated from ASU. Rod Vega, Ramon Hurtado, and Mazen Alloush did a little time at El Camino before going to USC. I could go on and on.
Four out of 100? Really, Mimi Vu??? You’re not going to transfer somewhere amazing after your two years at El Camino? Pam, my former student who lives with us, has been to Oklahoma, Cerritos, and now is on track to graduate from Long Beach City and attend a 4-yr next year, right on track with Mimi Vu. She is already in at Long Beach State and is just waiting on more acceptances.
Shoot, this was supposed to be “a nice post,” so let me turn it around quickly. I get a little worked up on this subject because not every freshman student needs to bankrupt his or her parents. And maybe things didn’t work out in high school like they should have, but the student is still willing. Or maybe there’s no money to start with. Gosh, golly, gee–who on earth cares what the deal is if students are getting to, and graduating from, their choices for 4-yr schools?
Debt is not nice. Junior colleges are great at keeping one free of loads of debt. There, this post just got nicer. I know I don’t have many readers here, for this is merely my little project, but I would love to hear anyone’s successful transfer story.