I can’t believe these grades, Idaho!

In a 2007 study done by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) Idaho schools were rated number 41 out of 50 states to prepare students to go on to college. It was determined that less than 30% of high school graduates between ages 18 and 24 pursue higher education.(1) According to the same study done in 2009, Idaho schools dropped to number 48 out of 50 states.(2) Yet at the same time Idaho schools graduate 90% percent or more of the students.

Help! We are drowning in high school diplomas.

I read that and I think, ‘Great. Now our graduates can fill out welfare applications with the rest of us.’ Our school system is pumping thousands of students into an already saturated working environment. Post Falls shot up to 13.4 percent unemployment in the last couple of years.(4) This is great for employers but tough on us older workers. Now we have to compete with thousands of young, strong, attractive, computer savvy kids. Kids who should be going to college but will gladly accept fifty cents over minimum wage instead. Thanks a lot Idaho for pushing us old folk out of the work force.

Welcome grads to Real Life 101

“Well, what are you going to do with your life now Johnny or Susie?” Most of these kids are smart enough to say, “I’m going to college.” That always works to get aunt Ellen off their back. Yet, they have not completed a FAFSA, enrolled, or taken ACT tests to go to college. Is this stuff supposed to magically happen? But who really cares? The school system seems to be fine with 30% going to college. It doesn’t really matter what happens after high school as long as those kids have passed the No Child Left Behind standards. Handing that diploma to 90% of seniors keeps that federal dollar coming in and the doors open for business. Here’s a quick life lesson Idaho schools: Regardless of the NCLB mandates, the modern world revolves around good college degrees not high school diplomas.

Generally, graduating seniors have no idea or plan on how to get to the next step. Only one other senior from my son’s football team went on to college. It’s like these kids need to go to high school detox. They have to recover from being spoon fed educational pudding then suddenly start digesting the real meat of life. If they don’t recover quickly, then life will certainly turn and eat them alive.

Oh, yes they have their diploma and freedom to pursue their dreams, but what happens when the jolt of reality wakes them up? It is no longer a free or reduced lunch anymore. It doesn’t matter if you can run the 800 in less than 2 minutes. None of that crap matters anymore. The coach is gone and so is your favorite teacher. Welcome to real life and good luck.

So according to these studies 70% of these kids are unable or unwilling to get a college education. What do these kids end up doing with all this new-found freedom and youthful energy? Some find work at the corner store to pay for the car loan, gas, and phone. Some find part time work, join the Army or just live at home. Some get real good at computer games, party, have sex, or whatever to pass the time. They wander around trying to figure out life-sometimes for years. Sometimes they never figure it out. Why didn’t after 12 years of schooling and millions of dollars of tax money prepare them for this moment? One cruel blow of reality is that just because you are a high school graduate does not give you much of an advantage when over 90% of everyone else has a high school diploma. (6)

Who is to blame for this mess?

I put the blame on the school system for this whole economic problem. “The school system” is what is broken and not the caring coaches and teachers of the school. The system had our kids for 12 years 6 to 8 hours a day, employed the best educators, spent 1.2 million a year per district…and it can’t do better than 30%? By the way, that 30% includes home and private school students. So don’t take credit for that whole 30% Idaho.

When I was a kid and came home with a 30% I would have my butt beat. ‘Wait till your father gets home Idaho schools. Wait a minute. Do you even have a father? Well, someone should beat your butt with an Idaho panhandle paddle for such bad grades. Then take away your Lotto allowance too. You are grounded from playing with any more school levy money until you get your damn ACT together. Is that understood Idaho schools? Now go to your school board meeting.”

Ain’t it great bout them thar college kids tho?

What makes matters even worse is that not all of those 30% “college prepared” students finish college. The NCHEMS study showed that in Idaho, only one half of those who start college would finish college. For the year 2008 NCHEMS confirmed that Idaho was again at the bottom of the union. Only 15% were able to make the full transition from high school and complete college.(3) Now we are down to 10 to 15 percent of the population earning a decent degree. That figure is consistent with a recent demographic study for Post Falls, Idaho. With a population of 28,000 only 2,800 of the adult residents had a BA degree.(5)

So what can I do about it?

As a single dad with no family support and raising 4 kids by myself, I had to do something. I had to break this poverty cycle for my kid’s sake and their future families. I became determined not to let them fall to those terrible statistics. I was sure not going to depend on a failing school system to do it either. I wanted them to graduate from college. They were already at a disadvantage with generations of family poverty and an unstable living environment. I was not much help with my worthless AA and Medical Assistant degree either.

So I approached this situation with a “scared successful” method of discipline and motivation. Fortunately, my kids are smart and respectful. Eventually, they understood the value of a good education. Once they grasped it there was no stopping them. They excelled in school, sports, community programs, and church.

Now Moriah is 21 years old, has her own apartment, car and completing her nursing program at NIC. Jacob is a sophomore at the University of Idaho and playing football for the Idaho Vandals. Ivory is a senior at Post Falls High with one of the highest GPAs in the school. She is active in her church and helps handicapped kids. Ivory and Moriah are both CNAs and they are all interested in the medical field. Selah, my oldest, is a responsible hard-working mother. She takes care of two children including a disabled blind baby. I could not be a prouder parent.

IT WORKED! I have to tell someone!

These results did not happen by luck or accident. This approach to life and education worked even in my dysfunctional situation. I wanted to share this success with the Post Falls school district. I wanted other parents to have this same insight. I wanted them to have this same experience. I wanted to get this message to their kids before they fell into that 70%.

I put together a curriculum to show the school district. It was a plan designed to motivate, encourage, and direct high school students into higher learning. I invested hundreds of hours to develop material and life lessons. I put together a website for parents who have difficult family issues called ‘Life By Phil.’ I am also a photographer and produce business videos. So I proposed a plan that would produce student/athlete profile videos. I work with an advertising agency that could host their profiles for very little money. College recruiters, scholarship committees, and potential employers could see these student profiles easily. It included ways to provide scholarship money for application fees, and college entrance tests.