Did you know that every Wednesday is College Day at Canyon Lake? Students and staff are encouraged to wear college attire. You'll see college pennants hanging near the front doors of Canyon Lake East and West, and every teacher has a sign outside their classroom door that says where they went to college, and what they majored in.
So why are we talking about college in elementary school? Well, that's a good question. Here are some answers:
- A college education allows your child to choose their career. By going to college, your child will be able to choose a career that interests them. According to research nearly 50% of jobs that currently exist will be replaced by automation in the next 20 years! A college education will help to ensure employment opportunities in the future.
- A college education increases the amount of money your child may be able to make. The more education your child receives, the more money he/she may be able to earn. According to the U.S. Census, a college graduate will, on average, earn 2.4 million dollars, compared to 1.4 million dollars for a non-college graduate over a 40-year career.
- A college education expands your child's mind. The more educational opportunities your child is exposed to, the more knowledge and skills they will obtain. Education will expose your child to a variety of people, topics, and experiences, and allow them to learn about things that interest them.
- A college education can help your child improve their community. Going to college will help to teach your child how to make a difference in their community. As a college graduate, your child will also serve as a role model for other children in the community.
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, thinking about college
as being "within reach" appears to affect
achievement goals in young students. The study shows that
children spend more time studying and have greater expectations of
their own academic performance when they view attending college as a realistic possibility. And students who decide early to go to college are more likely to enter higher education, so we're hoping to start that dialogue with our students now.
And college doesn't have to mean a 4-year university. There are great vocational and technical schools, like Western Dakota Tech, available as options, too.
If you have any questions, please stop in and ask!
