Pros of the Extended High School - Essay Example

Extended High School An extended high school is one which runs for an extended period of time beyondthe usual four years. The extended high school takes two additional years for students to graduate, that is, students graduate in six years instead of four. During this period of time, students learn various skills ranging from science to technology, engineering, and mathematics, which altogether makes up the STEM skills. A new high school has been setup in Chicago south, where the college aims is to redefine the education system of 21th Century. This methodology is inspired from Sarah E. Goode - the innovator who designed a folding bed that converted into a desk (National Academy Foundation, n.pag.). The idea behind the extended high school is the same which results in dual benefits for the students from 6 years of high school studies. IBM has supported to initiate this program. The Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, Mr. Stanley Litow has taken it as a mission to bring a change in the secondary education system. The 4 years education in the high school only ensures the candidate to earn not more than $15 per hour. This is why Mr. Litow believes that there should be something new for the future generation as they are the ones who will one day run the country. He aims to open 29 more academies in the next two years (National Academy Foundation, n.pag.). The academy promises to give jobs in IBM to every graduate with a salary of $40,000 plus, which is a considerable amount. This example is just to demonstrate the pros of having an extended high school certification which enables greater skills accumulation and hence, a better job. IBM has taken the initiative to introduce such schools and academies that lead up to a promising job that pays well. After the declining financial performance around the world, the job market has become even more competitive. Furthermore, economic crisis and other financial downfalls negatively affect the employability of prospective candidates. So acquiring jobs has become extremely difficult. Extended high school has solved the issue of skills deficiency in the workplace by providing two extra years in high school through which students become certified an associate’s degree right after graduation. This boosts their profile and makes them more competitive as their education trains them for a better job – they have the right skills and are a better fit for the job. In the additional two years, students acquire the relevant skills and knowledge that is required for a high paying job. Hence, the extended high school helps in equipping students with what they need to succeed in the job market, and makes them more competitive. As a result, students are able to land good jobs that pay well even in times when the job market seems tough and somewhat saturated. Another advantage of the extended high school program is that it ensures that even high school graduates can land good jobs. Many students fail to go to college due to high tuition fees and hence are unable to attend college. Inability to attend college works against them and restricts their prospects to a low paying and often difficult to acquire job. The result is that the high school graduate remains an under-skilled, underpaid, and ignored individual who can only expect to earn a small amount of money. With an extended high school on the other hand, high school graduates study two more years in which they learn a lot. In a way, the same high school graduate now has a greater value due to two additional years of study. The extended high school therefore levels up the normal high school graduate by enabling the student to circumvent the usual college and gain even more skills and knowledge through a rigorous process that involves inculcation of STEM skills. A common issue has been the alarming rate of college drop outs for various reasons. The extended high school has reduced the chances of such an instance by including the curriculum and material into the high school program. Students carry out their high school while the ultimate degree they achieve is an associate’s degree – a lot better than the traditional high school certification which was less competitive and did not mean much as a standalone qualification. Te traditional high school degree is good as far as it provides an entry into a better educational institution. However, many students either fail to enter college or drop out while just being college juniors. This hurts their chances of getting a good job. Not only this, but this also works to make a student lack the necessary skills and knowledge required for a job. Lack of skills often makes it difficult for job acquisition, promotion, and a reasonable pay rate. The extended high school has allowed students to acquire ample amount of knowledge and skills that is enough for him or her to get a good job right after graduation while many traditional high school graduates suffer lack of jobs. The long period of study is ample as it continually develops a person including his abilities. A student gets the chance to polish his or her skills. Comparatively, an extended high school diploma is better than a traditional high school certification because it qualifies a person enough to secure high paying jobs in some of the best organizations of the world. IBM is one such company which is optimistic about the whole idea of extended high schools. It believes that such academies will help students in their job pursuit as well as the organizations due to provision of skills human resources. Furthermore, extended high schools provide the advantage of being trained in each of the key domains that include science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Such skills are very important in developing a person. Most of these skills relate to human capacity to think critically, solve problems, and innovate. This is one reason why students of extended high schools focus on innovation and are thus called innovators (National Academy Foundation, n.pag.). The focus is on thinking and coming up with unique ideas that aim at solving problems. A unique feature of extended high schools is that they promote creativity unlike traditional schools that often diminish creativity through boring curriculums, ineffective pedagogy, and clumsily executed educational plans. The upsides of extended high schools are various. Above all, it is beneficial for the youth who will serve the country and who need the knowledge to enable them make the right decisions. Extended high schools develop a person, train them to fill the gaps, and provide them with the necessary skills that matter in the workplace today. As such, these students are innovative because of their cognitive abilities that are exceptional. The teaching technique and philosophy has helped to achieve the result. In the end, extended high schools are quite beneficial for high school graduates. The ‘innovators’ learn a variety of skills that prepare them for a brighter future. It makes them more competitive and builds their profile. Thus, it is easier for the students to land high paying jobs in good companies as compared to traditional high school graduates who may not be able to get such jobs. It is therefore socially advantageous for students graduating from an extended high school due to the invaluable amount of knowledge that is obtained throughout the process. Works Cited Foundation, National Academy. The School That Will Get You A Job – TIME’. Naf.org. N.p., 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. Read More