of Nicholas school.
There was an article in our lil county paper about how many students the last two years were deemed "College Ready" as determined by their ACT scores.
Four different subject matters, a score of a 20 in each of the four is considered college ready.
Last years graduating class?
25% were college ready.
This years class?
20%.
Did I mention we were ready to roll?
1 in 5 seniors this year are ready for college level work.
I understand that college isn't for everyone.
Those numbers?
Sickening.
Maybe if some of their teachers would worry more about teaching the subject matter and a lil less about somebody's politics, religion or sexual orientation then maybe they would have more kids ready to pursue more post-secondary education opportunities.
They used to have what was called KATS testing.
Ky accountability something or another.
It was used to judge how well an overall school was performing.
(Not individual students)
Our lil district always did phenomenal.
#1 Middle school in the state on KATS testing.
I told everybody it didn't mean shit lol.
Yeah, I've been real popular in our lil hamlet for a long time.
KATS testing was developed for the state.
It had no national tie in to any other form of testing.
I always said it was the ACT and SAT scores that matter.
1 in 5.
Sickening.
To me, what I have always wanted to know is, not how many are college ready, not how many actually enroll in post secondary schools (don't matter, barber, cosmetology, HVAC, Tech school, four year college, seminary, whatever) but how many finish that educational pursuit?
Because just judging by the pictures or notices that get put in the lil county paper when that happens?
I'd say two or maybe three a year at most.
Wait till the factories close down someday.
With this kind of educated workforce?
It won't be pretty.
My grandfather had enough sense and courage to leave Harlan KY.
Wallins Creek aint even hardly there anymore.
He knew what lay ahead and wanted better for himself and his family.
So he got out.
Moved to Louisville with his wife and four kids.
Lived in the projects for a while.
He didn't wanna be a coal miner and live that life.
He went on to be a union boilermaker and have a nice life for himself, his wife, his children.
Retired.
Had plenty of money to live on.
I often think, "Where would any of us (cousins, aunts, uncles etc) be if he hadn't seen the handwriting on the wall and gotten out?"
I tell Nicholas there are a lot of similarities in what my Grandfather did and what I am doing.
I'm leaving cause I love you and want us to build a life together.
Period.
Nicholas also just happens to see the handwriting on the wall.
Lucky him lol.
He gets the baddest step mom on the planet and a life much more suited for him and his endeavors.
Blessed Lucy, just blessed sweetheart.
Never lucky, always blessed...