Posted by Michele Siqueiros on August 03, 2020 at 10:00 AM
In 2019, when the college admissions scandal dubbed Operation Varsity Blues came to light, like most Americans I was sick to my stomach. Abuse of privilege, wealth and power is not new. My anger wasn’t just directed at the families and the campus leaders that were engaged in the scandal, it was fueled by a frustration at how the least privileged, wealthy and famous among us, have to overcome a million hurdles in order to get to college, and when we do, we are made to feel as if we don’t belong. In response to that anger I wrote this earlier post as a tribute to first generation students, me included.
Reading Paul Tough’s The Years That Matter Most reignited some of that same anger and frustration.
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Posted by Alan Glassman on May 26, 2020 at 9:18 AM
After joining the CFCT virtual book club and reading Paul Tough’s book, The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us, I felt compelled to write about my observations of state universities.
In the book, Tough integrates an impressive body of academic research, interviews with experts on higher education, and the personal stories of individuals from lower socioeconomic circumstances trying to navigate the higher educational system. From family skepticism and pressure to contribute economically, to erroneous high school counseling advice, to biased admissions criteria and processes, to surviving in a brand new environment, these youngsters must cope with innumerable disadvantages. Although the book’s stories of those who succeed in meeting these challenges are inspiring, overall the book leaves you angry and sad.
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Posted by David Wolf on May 01, 2020 at 6:58 AM
The story of an American education is the extension of formal, directed study over increasing increments of time, as the country and the world developed. We know that at least some college level education is now a necessity to qualify for most work in America in the 21st century.
But, as amply demonstrated in The Years That Matter Most by Paul Tough, there are many challenges students still face should they qualify for and enter a college or university.
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Posted by Morley Winograd on April 23, 2020 at 6:15 AM
The Campaign for Free College Tuition’s advocacy for making college tuition free is based on a belief that young people need to continue their education after high school to increase their economic success as adults.
Now, in a remarkable new book, The Years that Matter Most, author Paul Tough describes the range of barriers many high school students must overcome to get into college and how difficult it is for far too many students to complete their higher education studies if they do enroll.
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