Appalachian State University - Rhododendron Yearbook (Boone, NC)

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CHANGES EDUCATION IN CRISIS With standards slipping and remedial classes filled to overflowing, has our educational system reached a crisis point? ARTICLE BY KRISTIN KOPREN Kids coming into college are not prepared for college reading. That ' s the opinion of Dr. Gary Moorman of ASU ' s Reading Education Department. Moor- man stated that although general reading levels in this country have risen, a decline has been seen in the ability to read high-level, critical material. This creates problems for America, because if we are to run a highly technological society, the basic minimum reading level is not sufficient. The problem emerged in the 1960 ' s as a growing social awareness developed. Inequity in schooling for blacks, Hispan- ics, and women was finally dealt with through an attempt to raise educational standards for these groups. Both Pre- sidents Kennedy and Johnson established equal educational opportunities out of a need for a high level of literacy, Moorman explained. Funding was pushed in this direction, and more people read at a minimum level than ever before. Thus, while the commitment was made to lower level readers, the critical reading skills suffered. Moorman citied the decline of average SAT scores over the past 13 to 14 years as evidence of this. He said that the decline has bottomed out at this point. He pointed out the contradictions that appear in our educa- tional system; general reading levels are up, while high level reading abilities have declined. Another factor that has affected the educational system is the high number of working mothers that has come about over the past decade. He explained that the schooling that is provided to younger children is basically just care with little education. With qualified people, Kids learn a lot before they come to school. ASU ' s Early Childhood Degree was created as an attempt to remedy this problem, however, Those people don ' t really have any jobs, said Moorman. ASU has been affected by the problems caused by this deterioration of reading abilities. When Moorman came to Boone four years ago, 24 of the incoming freshmen placed into Develop- mental Reading. By last year the figure had jumped to 34 . Moorman has seen a noticable decline in basic reading skills during that period. This idea is reinforced by the rise in the number of students enrolled in College Reading and Study Skills. Upon his arrival, there were 200 to 250 students enrolled in this course. The fall semester of this year saw 330 students in the classes, while another 250 took it this spring in what Moorman calls a noticable increase. College Reading and Study Skills classes are taught by graduate students. Speed reading and vocabulary are emphasized, along with college survival skills. These include time management, study techniques, note taking, how to read different type texts, and test taking skills. Moorman says that ASU is now more or less average, and catching up and becoming more like other colleges. He says that scores everywhere are falling, due to the fact that kids are not learning to read in elementary and high school. Joe Watts, Director of Admissions, says, Standards have not dropped here. Students most qualified to do the work here are accepted. The two criteria that are used to judge an applicant ' s qualifica- tions to perform here academically are achievement in high school and scholastic aptitude. Scholastic aptitude is measured by the SAT. Watts said the scores fluctuated, but there was not a definite decline. He said last year was the best in the past eight years. The director attributes the decline that did occur to the fact that there are a lot fewer students to draw from. He added that UNC Chapel Hill may also be dipping lower into the pool of applicants to meet its quotas. Appalachian at one time talked about not dropping the standards, but the school needs 1800 to 1900 (freshmen) to pay the bills, he said. Watts stated the goal of admissions is to maintain the levels of enrollment and qualified students that we now have. .