No doubt I'll hear it from colleagues, but the most intriguing new book I've encountered is Blake Boles' College Without High School, where in the author suggests that high school might not be for everyone, and that attending college, even highly sought after competitive colleges, does not require a high school diploma. I think Boles might have something here.
While I don't have experience with high school dropouts attending college, I do have experience with bored high school students. I also know that as Boles suggests, high school is structured to suggest one size fits all, but this is not the case. All manner of bright students are bored to tears by the institutional organization of high school. The daily routine, the class structure, the curricular offerings are all tailored to accommodate a broad swath of students, but this means that little thought is given to allowing students to custom fit their education.
I believe it is important to provide students a broad experience, much as is the case at liberal arts colleges. What I don't believe works is pigeon holing students into taking classes they are uninterested in, or requiring them to simply complete standardized tests to show competence or mastery.
I think, as Boles argues, students should engage in greater adventures while learning where their interests genuinely lie. I think students need more input in their education, and I think high schools must be better able to adapt to the needs of students, rather than the other way around.
