Other Ways to Win: Creating Alternatives for High School Graduates [Hardcover]

Kenneth Carter Gray (Author), Edwin L. Herr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0803962452 | ISBN-13: 978-0803962453

The focus of this book is the plight of many students in United States high schools who face an unpromising future on graduation. Written for students, teachers and parents, Other Ways to Win stresses that alternatives to college do exist for entering the labour market, many of which offer a higher probability of success. It argues that the key to future economic security is not education per se but obtaining the occupational skills that lead to high skills//high-wage work. The authors conclude with suggested strategies for high schools to adopt in order to improve students' preparation to meet an uncertain future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A landmark statement for education in the 21^st century, and a must-read for parents, students, and high school instructional leaders."

(Janette Kelly ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Kenneth C. Gray is a professor in the Workforce Education and Development Program at Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State, he was superintendent of the Vocational Technical High School System in Connecticut and has been a high school English teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator. He has published widely and is frequently quoted in the national press. He is coauthor with Edwin Herr of Workforce Education: The Basic. His latest book, Getting Real: Helping Teens Find Their Future, addresses the importance of helping teenagers develop career direction as a prerequisite to postsecondary success. He holds a BA in economics from Colby College, an MA in counseling psychology from Syracuse University, and a doctorate in technical education from Virginia Tech.

Edwin L. Herr is Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Education (Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology) and Emeritus Associate Dean, College of Education, Pennsylvania State University. He received his BS degree in Business Education from Shippensburg State Teachers College (Now Shippensburg University), and an MA and EdD in Counseling and Student Personnel Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, where he was an Alumni Fellow. A former business teacher, school counselor, and director of guidance, he previously served as Assistant and Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo (1963-1966) and as the First Director of the Bureau of Guidance Services and the Bureau of Pupil Personnel Services, Pennsylvania Department of Education (1966-1968). The author or coauthor of more than 300 articles and 32books and monographs, he is Past President of the American Counseling Association, Past President of the National Vocational Guidance Association, and Past President of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. He has been elected a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, the American Association for Applied and Preventive Psychology, and the National Career Development Association. Among his many awards, he has received the Eminent Career Award of the National Career Development Association, the extended research award from the American Counseling Association, and the Counseling Innovation and Vision Award of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Corwin Press (September 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803962452
• ISBN-13: 978-0803962453
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,701,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Educators--Take Note, March 20, 2000

By 

Kathleen Carroll (Wheaton, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Other Ways to Win: Creating Alternatives for High School Graduates (Hardcover)

This book should be required reading for high school and middle school teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. (And it wouldn't hurt for the elementary school educators to read it, either.) It is also recommended for parents who are concerned about the types of curriculums offered in high schools today.

Gray and Herr say that the "one way to win" (i.e, the four-year college education) does not work for all students -- particularly many in what they call the academic middle. They say that many of these students enter four-year colleges ill prepared. They end up taking many remedial courses their first year, many do not finish college, and end up with high student loan debt.

They recommend that students start to prepare a career plan in middle school or the first year in high school. Such plans should include a realistic assessment of the student's abilities to undertake a four-year college program. For many students, moving into one and two-year certificate and associate degree programs which lead to highly skilled, highly paying jobs would be a better alternative than a four-year college. Other students would benefit from a school-to-work transition program.

In short, Gray and Herr say that the current academic system is failing many students, and we need to look at alternatives to help students succeed.