Do You Dual Credit?

            Throughout Chasing Literacy, I have constantly been reminded of my high school literacy experience. So much of what these case study students have been saying was what I would have said at seventeen. Another grim example of how this case study mirrored my real life was the idea that college composition courses could actually be taught in high school. According to Kristine Hansen and Christine Farris, these courses are rendered “appropriate to move into the high school to speed up student development and make room in college for other kinds of learning” (qtd. in Keller 84). It would be an understatement to say that I have problems with their assertions. First of all, Hansen and Farris feel that the high school classroom is “appropriate” for an accelerated version of a college composition class. When I think of college composition courses, I do not always think of a safe and watered-down environment like the high school classroom. From my high school experience, I never had a class that would have translated well into a college classroom. After all, these college courses taken in high school (often known as dual credit classes) can feel like they are watered down since they have to meet the college standards for a high school mind. Also, these dual-credit classes have to be available to every student that wants to take it, not just those who would do well in these classes. So, a rigorous college course gets translated to become an ordinary high school class that will get the student college credit. Thus, the college composition course is no longer the same thing. The second issue I have with Hansen and Farris is the fact that they are implying that composition courses are not a necessary component to college learning. Now, I understand and agreed with the line of thought that some people need to learn writing skills in high school, but I still think that college composition courses can help learn other skills that are necessary. I know that I have taught how to write an email, register for classes, and drop classes to students on top of writing an argumentative essay for the appropriate audience and crucial researching skills. By saying these classes can be taught in the high schools, people are limiting the options for first year students to become more engaged in the collegian atmosphere.

Any other problems with the Hansen and Farris quote? Or, do you agree with the Hansen and Farris quote?

Works Cited
Keller, Daniel. Chasing Literacy: Reading and Writing in an Age of Acceleration. Logan: Utah State UP, 2013.