Center for the Future of Arizona | Pathways Project

Pathways to Postsecondary



	Karen Nicodemus, Ph.D.

Viewpoints
Arizona Republic
September 14, 2008

Education level will mirror quality of life for a person

By Karen A. Nicodemus, Ph.D.
President, Cochise College
Former President, Arizona State Board of Education

Several years ago in a commencement address at Cochise College, former Arizona Governor Raul Castro noted that education was the great equalizer. I would suggest for today’s young people competing in a 21st century workplace, their level of education will be the great divider. And the division created will continue to be an ever-widening gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” when it comes to quality of life opportunities.

As we face dire projections around an undereducated workforce, it is easy to cast blame on students, parents and/or teachers. Certainly we all know that student motivation, parental support and quality teaching greatly impact student success. But as a society we must also acknowledge that our education system (preK-20) is not structured to optimally support tomorrow’s workforce, nor the needs of our current and future students.

As noted by the Center for the Future of Arizona, now is the time to work together to reform our education system. One positive step would be to create multiple, relevant pathways for students that cross education sectors, that eliminate artificial articulation barriers and requirements, and that encourage students to WANT to stay in school and complete not only high school, but a college education.

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