Students in ninth through the 12th grade attending summer programs at a community college outside Washington, D.C., will get a taste of the Occupy operation in a new course that aims to get them interested in “the movement for justice.”
“Occupy MoCo!,” one of the newest courses at Montgomery College in Montgomery County, Md., is part of the Summer Youth program offered for 2012.
“We are at an exciting time in the history of the world. People all over the planet are taking democracy into their own hands and working together to create solutions for a better world,” reads the course description for YOU392.
“Take advantage of this interactive opportunity to learn critical thinking skills that will help you in college and gain insight into becoming a global leader of the 21st century. Learn about the Occupy Wall Street movement and explore real-life human rights implications. Review social justice concepts and explore human rights issues related to current events. Young people hold the power to change their community, their schools, their future — are you ready to join the movement for justice?”
Elizabeth Homan, the school’s director of communications, said the class “does not take a stance on the Occupy movement. Rather, the movement provides a creative opportunity for students to discuss protests throughout history, as well as current events, definitions, and various processes that can be used to voice opinions in the community.”
Wow. What a great opportunity for kids in D.C.
In California, high school students in Chico can’t take summer school because Chico Unified doesn’t offer it. If they want to take a summer class at Butte Community College they have to beg teachers to add them since the college students are all enrolled due to overcrowding and classes they couldn’t take during the school year.
Must be nice in DC to have so much money high school kids can go to community college summer school and “Occupy DC”
Our high school kids cannot even get the most basic education and they get to waste money on classes like this in other states. I would like my 9th grader to take government in summer school here in Chico but she won’t have the chance.
Here is FREE university course on the US Constitution.
The Michigan-based college is offering a free, online 10-week course beginning Feb. 20. Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution sets out to provide participants with an understanding and ability to defend the timeless principles of liberty upon which the nation was founded.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/hillsdale-college-opens-constitution-course-to-the-public-for-free/
Also, I retired from a community college district in the bay area after working for 27 years so can address the funding and class offerings.
Community colleges’ mission is to meet the needs of the local community. That is why you’ll see certain types of class, certificates and degrees being offered at some but not all colleges.
The funding that comes from the state is based on student enrollment, but the colleges can not grow more than 2% each academic year. When unemployment goes up so does enrollment. Laid off workers go back to school to further their education or change their career/vocations. A huge log jam occurs when the demand is high but the funding isn’t there to provide enough of the courses in demand.
There are only so many class rooms, seats, instructors, etc. and a decision has to be made as to how many sections of each type of courses can be offered to fill the classes while meeting the needs of the students, but staying within the budget allotted from the state.
Having a high school student, that failed their required English or math course to get their high school diploma, taking a seat in a community college classroom is not the most efficient use of resources, but it’s done all the time.