Intellectual elitism strips students of their self-esteem and leaves most children behind.

By James A. "Shanbrom" Shanbrom

The intellectual elites have for years now promoted this idea that all high school students must go to college and get a bachelors degree otherwise they will not succeed in life. It is true that a college education will increase your employment potential, yet is not true for everyone.

For careers in medicine, computer science, social services, psychology, teaching, law, etc., a post-secondary education is important. Unfortunately all federal funding for local schools is awarded based on high school students being prepared for college. What about the majority who chose vocational or a technical career? They are the "Children Left Behind". Intentional or not, the intellectual elites have created a type of snobbery and ultimately a discriminatory practice in our society. Students are made to feel bad if they do not want to go to a four-year college that somehow they are not good enough if they do not possess the degree. What about those who want to stay home and raise your family? My mother was the smartest person I knew and she only graduated from high school. She always seemed to know the answers on Jeopardy. On the other hand, those students who are presently not interested in academics might develop an interest to return to college later in life. With tuition prices increasing, A good vocation will help pay for a college education.

As an educational and academic advisor, I have conducted more than 4,000 lectures to more than 95,000 high school students at 83 different high schools in 6 school districts. I have been elected the Lancaster High School Parent Site Council and I have personally met with and interviewed more than 300 teachers. I served on the post-secondary commitment program in the LAUSD with the District C superintendent Bob Collins. I served on a committee with LAUSD District A Superintendent Dr. Debbie Leidner that's purpose is to build the first "all academy public high school" in Woodland Hills, CA.

When no one is looking and the door is closed, the teachers tell me how they really feel. I have a very unique insight to what is happening in our schools. Basically I am an education outsider who is on the inside of our public school system for the last 9 years.

High school counselors have been mandated by the state that they have to tell students to go to college even if they do not want to or are not meant to go. This in my opinion is counter-productive. What about little Johnny who wants to be a plumber like his dad? Johnny wants to take vocational courses to learn his trade. One day little Johnny will run his dad's business. Johnny needs to learn his trade and the basics on how to run a business. His school curriculum should be designed to prepare him for his chosen trade. The present federal public relations line regarding education is "No student left behind". Although the intentions are good, it has not worked and never will. My approach is "All students get ahead." America's students are more than a clever cliché.

The governors association based on their mandate requires that the school counselor tell Johnny that it doesn't matter what he wants and that he must get a bachelors degree. It is this intellectual elitism that has caused in my opinion a lower success rate in our school. The message little Johnny gets is that being a plumber is not good enough. Johnny feels bad about himself and then is given the impression that his dad is somehow a second class citizen for being a plumber. If a student has no desire to go to school and learn, we cannot force them. The old cliché that you can take a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink it really applies here. We must inspire our students to learn. A student isn't a statistic. A student is a person with feelings and dreams. We must remove the dream stealers from our schools. We must set policies that allow for individual students to express their unique talents and become successful.

If I am elected to the high school board, I will make sure that all policies will create an environment in which students can and will succeed.

James Shanbrom High School Board Candidate, High school Coordinator, and Parent.