The Road Less Traveled

To the Editor:

By now most people reading my letters to the editor must have questions exactly what my ideas for the education of our youth look like. My high school education was in Europe and their form of higher education is quite unlike our system. I believe much of their methods should be adopted here and for good reasons.

Most parents and students do not have much of an idea what is really required for an advanced education. Educators do or should. As such, the selection of electives should be restricted to make sure the necessary topics are taught.

Secondly, not all students will go on to a meaningful college education. It should be a place of serious learning, not a place for beer parties and revelry. With this in mind, the teachers in high school have an obligation to steer their students in the right directions and this means to be brutally honest and realistic. The idea that everybody needs a college education is tantamount to saying that we all have the same talents. We do not.

Thirdly, and most important of all, students must be told that it is just as respectable to be working with your hands as being some type of white collar worker. My father began as a carpenter and ended up a shipbuilder with his own shipyard and my grandfather was a painter and the descendant of a long line of blacksmiths. There must be much more emphasis on trade schools such as Abbott Tech. Newtown should apply for a grant to form a superior technical high school whose graduates are ready for a state license and a well-paid job. I worked in a foundry (Eastern Company, Naugatuck) pouring white hot metal as a young man. It taught me respect for hard work. An education must have meaning beyond the obvious.

Fourth, there should be a requirement for a mandatory second language. No exception for those in a regular high school. I believe there are many students not ready for a final decision as to their field of work. For these, a technical high school at least has a golden foundation and their decision to academia must be postponed.

I started high school at age 10. It should also be lowered here for those showing promise for academia.

Finally, I repeat that education costs must be lowered substantially for high schools and colleges. The best means is to start at the local level. Eventually this will lower college tuition as they would be out of balance with high schools. My friends, and this includes all teachers, think seriously about what I have told you. The road less traveled is by far the more important to our youth and should become the main road.

Oscar Berendsohn

34 Appleblossom Lane, Newtown                        August 11, 2012