As a long-time resident of the Town of Hopkinton, an educator and the mother of a son who graduated from Hopkinton High School in 2013, I read the Concord Monitor’s article on Hopkinton High School’s 2017 graduation with interest.
At a time when higher education is touting the latest education initiative known as Guided Pathways, I was pleased to see that one of the best high schools in the state of New Hampshire still knows that the value in education comes from exploration.
Lawrence Bickford, a long-time and beloved math teacher, expressed that in order to develop a vision, some people need time to explore and try new things, even if that means dabbling in a half-dozen subject matters before finding the perfect fit.
Mr. Bickford said he formed his own path despite the criticism he received for doing so. He was able to find his passion in life because he had the chance to explore, and he encouraged the Class of 2017 to make sure they took time to do the same.
In his valedictory address, Aidan Molnar had a similar message when he shared a story from his childhood about his visit to the San Diego Zoo with his family. He wanted nothing more than to see the polar bears, however the exhibit was on the far side of the zoo, and so Molnar rebelled by ignoring all of the other animals along the way. What he regrets most today, he said, is missing out on the journey because he was fixated on the final destination. Molnar said. “You aren’t chained to one thing; you have to try different things.”
For a long time, higher education leaders believed in providing students with more options by offering flexible schedules and the freedom to explore. But lately, both two-year and four-year colleges have been taking the opposite approach, adopting Guided Pathways. The idea behind this educational initiative is that college students are more likely to complete a degree in a timely fashion if they choose a program and develop an academic plan early on and have a clear road map of the courses they need to take in order to graduate. The goal here is to keep the students on track at the expense of exploration and diversity. Reaching the predetermined goal is now apparently the singular objective of education.
This is a cautionary tale for those who are heading off to college and registering for classes. Do not fall into the Guided Pathways trap. Do not be afraid to attempt the unfamiliar. Learn from Aidan Molnar’s mistake; see value along the way and try different things. Listen to Larry Bickford and take the time to explore even in the face of criticism. You will be glad that you did.
Heed the words of another wise New England gentleman, Robert Frost, who wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
(Laura Z. Morgan lives in Hopkinton.)