Post-secondary education: Reading and Writing for democracy?

More validation about the bad news for reading. When I read "In the Basement of the Ivory Tower" by Professor X in the June 2008 Atlantic Monthly I had to do a double-take. "Did I write this and send it in because it sure sounds a hell of a lot like my adjunct teaching stories!," I thought. But no it's not me. Whoever Professor X may be, he or she is dead on about the reality that most of us who strive to teach literature and composition face daily. Perhaps the most profound quote in his or her argument that generally a college education may not be for everyone is when Professor X states, "Remarkably few of my students can do well in these classes. Students routinely fail; some fail multiple times, and some will never pass, because they cannot write a coherent sentence."

What's worse is that some schools actually do not care. They just want to keep their enrollment numbers up, come hell or high water, but not brighter students. There are administrators who might as well be running a diploma printing factory rather than an educational institution.

My opinion? Well, actually what I would love to see is a system that would not let a student into an Eng 101 course until they have in fact mastered more than the basics, even if it means they repeat Developmental English. In fact, at some point, students should be given a reading/writing counselor....someone who works with them on their individual Language learning issues the same way a therapist would work with their emotional issues. This type of micro developmental approach, coupled with well-designed developmental courses, and inter-disciplinary curricula, could go a long way to helping those who might not really be cut out for college actually learn and master enough of reading and writing that they may pass English 101.

After all, we do need as a society...police officers, LPNs, chefs, automotive engineers, and others who can express themselves in writing, and who can read through TV ads, newspapers and magazines with critical awareness. That is what Jefferson meant when he stated that democracy only works if the populace is informed.

So, in this political season, with education again not being the number 1 priority, should we reconsider our post-secondary education? Should there be some pre-college developmental schools for those who have problems with learning? Shouldn't post-secondary educations be for anyone who wants it and is willing to try? Won't our democracy advance further if our populace en masse can read critically, and write effectively?