In the early years like in the 1800s onwards, education was only for the rich and everyone within the poverty line is concern of survival. This synthesis paper will provide accurate information about the situation of community college in the US and all the factors that affects it. This paper aims to reach out to everyone involved in this matter, meaning everyone. Education is a right and should never be denied to anyone. The establishment of community colleges along the country is a cure for so many nation crises like high unemployment rate, juvenile delinquents, minority death rate, drug addiction for minorities, and so much more. However, the cure itself is being degraded by immoral individuals making the statement that community college doesn’t provide the same level or magnitude education provided by elite universities in the country. It’s true that community college lacks the facilities, professors, resources, and funding. People who believes that community college doesn’t establish credibility and recognition fails to understand that real education is given to those who are willing to learn and it is a fact that there are community college students who would do very well and may even claim top recognitions in elite universities. Bailey, Jenkins, and Jaggas state that one of the biggest issues that community college and their students face is the discrimination of others because of its educational value. “There are growing concerns that the quality of a college education is suspect and that the cost of college is now beyond the means of a middle-class family” (3).
Rationale of the Paper
The purpose of this synthesis paper is simple but aims to provide a universal effect of educational development. Addressing the current issues hindering the development of community colleges will be the focus of this paper because the researchers hopes to inform all the readers on the right perspective and opinion towards community college and its students. So many writers and scholars have distributed certain information about community college tackling so many factors like its developments, characteristics, academic level, issues, and more. In 2015, President Barack Obama pushes the free two-year community college plan to give access to students who doesn’t have enough money to attend college. This is a huge leap for the entire country. Some many republican leaders think that this is a bad idea and will only result to unnecessary spending of money. Obama’s plan to fortify the educational system “immediately drew fire from Republican Congressional Leaders” (CQ Researcher 397). One of their defenses is that some students despite of having free admission to community colleges might tend to be passive and their education progress would be futile. It’s a reasonable statement, but the goal for better education system outweighs the need to save money for other matters in the country. There have been several debates between politicians and scholars whether the idea for a two-year free tuition is effective.
Arguments
The CQ Researcher gave Walter G. Bumphus who supports Obama’s proposal and Richard Vedder who is against the free-tuition plan to expand their opinions about the topic. Bumphus states that “community colleges provide educational opportunity to nearly half the nation’s college students” (Bumphus 401). This is true, poverty won’t be a barrier anymore because less-fortunate students can easily attend college and let their intelligence speak for themselves. In the negative side, Vedder is convinced that the idea was a big waste of money because according to him “the success rate at America’s community colleges is abysmally low” (Vedder 401). Their arguments both stands with keen observation and immersion since both are supported by facts and statistical details. Bumphus advocates a higher chance for everyone especially the poor to be educated and given a better chance in life. Vedder is being practical and is focus on other big issues especially to the imbalance economy of the country. Vedder’s opinion has a gap because a development with the education system of community colleges will help the country boost its economy because more people are going to resort in establishing a career with what they know and what they learn. However, Vedder has a great point about students in community colleges being too passive when it comes to learning and tend to do other things that would provide excitement rather than knowledge.
This collision between opinions isn’t healthy, that’s why this synthesis paper shall shed a brighter light to all the readers or audiences of this paper who are involved in this issue, meaning everyone in the country. Everyone is involved because all citizens have what it takes to either support or discourage the development of community college because of personal reasons. The readers might be aware of the common issues like discrimination and it is heartbreaking that it has been a default setting for so many minds that community college doesn’t provide good education and won’t be able to help many students in the future. What most readers might not know is that there are so many brilliant, famous, and bright individuals who graduated from community colleges all over the country. For example, American pioneer Walter Elias Disney or better known as the man behind Disney and Mickey Mouse is a community college graduate. The hardcore movie actor and award winning actor Clint Eastwood is also a community college. The director of Star Wars, George Lucas is also attended a community college graduate. Think about it, the stigma that poisons the education system for many years might hinder the next generations of geniuses to achieve their dreams. The audience also needs to consider the fact that Community College has provided so many turning points for many people throughout the years. Another good thing about community colleges is that they are flexible when it comes to choosing a focus of study. Several states in USA have great features that make them standout. Community colleges can provide a new program of education that focuses on amplifying whatever feature or attribute amplifies their economic and social stature. Most readers might ask “are community colleges able to produce high achievers?” Yes, yes they do, community colleges are great extensions for our educational program that reaches out to those in need. Students work hard to repay their gratitude to community colleges and everyone who supports them. Great education ignites when the teacher and the student are eager to teach and learn.
Development of the Education System for Community Colleges
Prior to Obama’s movement, Tennessee was the first state to offer free-tuition to community college students, Oregon comes in second. If all the states in USA agreed to apply this plan within their educational system, the number of aspiring students choosing various will increase and it will also boost the country’s economic stature because the employment rate will rise with the number of graduates per year. Canada and the US are among the leading countries when it comes to effective community college, both countries manage to aid other nations in doing the same developmental movements. Canadian and US community college have influenced the concept of the community college in Viet Nam” (Wiseman 314). Educational system should be the pillar of better learning for students not only in the US but every country in the world. The individuals who are responsible for teaching in these colleges also play a huge role when it comes to strengthening the educational system. It has been proven that effective interaction with students is a great method to encourage the students to see school as a place of productivity and not a room to waste time. Most community colleges or city colleges offer two years courses, it is true that a 4 or 5 year course may promise more, but it is also true that student’s graduation from a community college doesn’t signal the end of the learning process. These students are aware of the circumstances they face so they make sure to do what they can to open more opportunities to learn and expand their skills. The USA may set a great example for so many nations on how to engage community colleges.
Hindrances in the Way
Other than the discrimination of level of education, there are other issues needed to be addressed. These other issues were actually rooted from the discrimination plague. Some students are being aware of the possible criticism of others if they enter community college. This cause great discourage for a pupil and might lead to other interest like crime and drugs. The same goes with community college teachers or professors. Community colleges all over the country need strong financial support from many individuals, organizations, and companies. Money may play a huge role for the development of community colleges. There is a possibility that the money provided to community colleges might fall to the wrongs hands that’s why in line with this, is it important to monitor the expenditure of money for the sake of the community colleges and its students. McGlynn’s observation regarding the specific issues within community college gave a specific light towards the problem with math and English. In her paper, she included the findings of Community College Research Center (CCRC) that math and English serves as “gatekeepers that interfere with academic success, retention, and degree completion” (McGlynn, “Cources in the Way of Community College Completion”).
Right now talking out of research, the development of community colleges is still moving slowly since there are so many obstacles along the way. Going back to the issue of degradation or discrimination might never be healed but can be disregarded since there are still so many individuals who consider the education provided by community colleges weak and lacking. These days, students who struggle financially can only attend elite schools by applying or receiving scholarship or working while studying. No one can deny that there are community college students who would do a lot better compared to students who actually have good access to education in big schools.
This synthesis paper once again aims to serve as an eye opener and help or convince many people that community colleges are effective in molding the young generations of this country. It’s not an issue of weak educational system but weak minded individuals who thinks that college community graduates doesn’t have what it takes to create a career after graduating a two year course. There are so many community colleges students who have what it takes to be physicians, scientists, writers, innovators, and pioneers.
Works Cited
Bailey, Thomas, Jaggas, Shanna Smith and Jenkins, Davis. Redesigning America’s Community Colleges. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2015. Print.
“Community Colleges.” CQ Researcher 3 Feb 2016: 402. Print.
McGlynn, Angela Provitera. “Courses in the Way of Community College Completion. “Questia: Trusted Online Research. Questia, 3 Feb. 2016. Web. n.d.
“Should community college tuition be free?” CQ Researcher 3 Feb 2016: 401. Print.
Wiseman, Alexander. Community Colleges Worldwide: Investigating the Global Phenomenon. Vol. 7. West Yorkshire: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2012. Print.
