A Critique of Lynn Olson's "An Avenue to High Academic Standards"
             In "An Avenue to High Academic Standards" Lynn Olson says that school-to-work programs are an excellent idea is helping high school children today. This program is a way to keep High School students from getting bored.
             She uses an example of a 16-year-old girl, Ericka Pyne, to start her article. Ericka says that "I had absolutely no idea of what I was going to do with my life, and that really frustrated me." She got into a school-to-work program in the area of her interest and all of a sudden the whole outlook in things changes. She quotes, "It was great. I just loved it. I had all these wonderful experiences that most people my age couldn't talk about." This girl went on to get a Nursing degree and all because of the school-to-work program she enrolled in.
             The school-to-work programs are designed to put together learning in school and in the workplace. It gives the students an idea on what the real world is actually going to be like and helps them to understand why they have to take the classes they are in now such as; math, science, etc. Some try to say these programs "downplays intellectual achievement." But Olson says "well structures school-to-work programs can make learning come alive for students, by connecting the academic content that students learn in school with its use in the world outside the classroom." Studies were conducted at a few schools and they showed evidence that students involved in theses programs took more difficult mat and science courses than students whop weren't in the program. The studies also showed that the programs encourage more training and school beyond high school. Olson says that "School-to-work needs to be done well, making sure the academics are rigorous." The programs have to be c!
             arefully put together so it won't d...