SEA: Where students learn

Interesting to read “No, they’re not ready for college” editorial. While I’m not an educator or even have children in school, I am aware and deeply concerned about the lack of motivation for many high school students today.

It can’t always be blamed on teachers or schools; we have some of the best! Perhaps it is a lack of “carrots.” Students are not as excited about the future. Traditional college experience means more of the work and programs that bored them in high school. Perhaps the wide array of career choices is overwhelming. Lots of maybes and probably all apply.

Forty or 50 years ago, a college education was a fantasy dream for most high school students. Then it became almost the norm. Every high school student had the opportunity to go to college, and in 2012 it is the “norm.”

Today we constantly hear the term “Global” associated with nearly everything, but fewer than 10 percent of college students ever travel abroad. It is as out of touch or out of reach as a college education was 50 years ago. Yet, many colleges and universities have study abroad programs that are usually an immersion study program in one country, often similar in many ways to our own culture, but they awaken senses, tastes and thoughts.

The most diverse study abroad program is Semester At Sea, where students board a ship that is a floating university and spend 110 days immersed in 10-plus countries where they will be spending an intense five days in each country, meeting dignitaries such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, prime ministers, political leaders, scientists, writers.

Now THAT is a carrot! Introducing high school students to the opportunities afforded doing a Semester At Sea is a real “Global” education and motivation to achieve. If more high schools focused on or at least introduced the concept of “Global” education and encouraged the reality of actual participation in study abroad programs, perhaps students motivation and grades would improve. Equally as important, the early exposure to a global experience while a second semester college freshman or sophomore nearly always creates new awareness of life and career goals.

Having a first-hand global experience on a college grad’s resume is often equal to a graduate degree and always draws attention.

Parents and educators, give consideration to introducing global education to your high school students. It is affordable, and there is a lot of funding available. www.semesteratsea.org

SHIRLEY THAGARD

Hayden