Creating a Pervasive Culture of Educational Success
Today all young people need to be “college-bound.” This could include a union apprenticeship, 2 or 4 year college degree, certificate, or anything that will improve marketability. With so many affordable education options, financial aid, and support services, there’s no good financial excuse why every young person shouldn’t be able to do it.
Over the course of a lifetime, a 4 year college degree earns almost $1 million more than just a high school degree. Yet only 44% of Indiana 9th graders enter college, and only 22% complete a degree within 6 years. Our own MCCSC graduation rate is only Read more
Glaciers and Guidance Counselors
I recently had occasion to vacation in Glacier National Park. Did you know that according to recent predictions, the glaciers in the park will be completely melted by 2020? Rangers (darkly) joked with us that they’ll need a new name for the park.
But did you also know that a similar change is happening to guidance departments in public schools? A new report just released by the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center includes a startling look at what guidance counselors actually do – and don’t do – in today’s schools. As it turns out, their traditional role has melted away just as surely and inexorably as have those pearly caps on our American Alps. So much so, in fact, the title “guidance counselor” may no longer be appropriate.
Bigger Mountains = Smaller Glaciers
Let’s start with the core issue: Guidance counselors are completely overloaded. According to the report, the national average ratio of counselors to students is 467 to 1. This is actually down from a ratio of 506 to 1 in 1997.
Things are worse in Indiana, which ranks 44th with a ratio of 543 to 1. The recommended ratio is 250 to 1, but only four states (Louisiana, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming) actually meet this guideline. But impossible caseload ratios only tell part of the story.
From Icebergs to Sno Cones Read more
Volunteers Form the Backbone of the Franklin Initiative
The Franklin Initiative is very lucky to have sponsors and donors that value the role of education in the business community. However, without all the help we receive from community volunteers none of our fantastic programs would be possible.
During this busy time of year, we rely heavily on our dedicated group of volunteers who assist us in implementing our programs and events. Our volunteers come to us with many areas of expertise and help us provide Monroe County students with a variety of creative educational opportunities that otherwise might not be available to them. Read more
Better Schools Mean Better Business and Better Community
This column by Travis Vencel, chairman of the board, and Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO, of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce appeared as a guest column in The Herald Times on April 12, 2010.
“Better Business. Better Community.” A simple statement that reflects The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce’s belief that a strong business climate leads to a higher quality of life for everyone.
But as we all know, it takes many components to build a “better community.” That is why, through The Chamber’s Franklin Initiative, we work daily in our schools to make a difference in young lives, with particular attention paid to at-risk youth. This is a focus area for The Chamber because we also believe that better education creates better business and a better community. Read more