Are parents justified in pressuring their teenage children to get a college education?

by Deborah Coshun

Created on: July 06, 2009   Last Updated: July 08, 2009

It's a fact that all kids are not suited for a four year college. In todays world unless you want to spend the rest of your life doing unskilled labor with little chance of advancement, you need to attend some type of college. It may not be your typical four year college program but a training in a trade or skill that will give you better opportunities for being hired as well as better chances for advancement. Continued education after high school is imperative in todays society and your approach to teaching your child the importance of college should have begun at an early age in order to aid you during the teenage years.

Due to the changes in the world it is understandable why parents are putting more and more pressure on kids to go to college. This is not much different from years ago when high school became so important and pressure was put on kids to graduate from high school. We are seeing all the changes that are requiring people to have degrees now to enter jobs that in the past could have been attained through hard work. It's up to the parent to make sure that his children are aware of what is needed in order to succeed. I caution that you must realize when your child is not college material and find other alternatives for this child rather than trying to force them into a situation that will never work for them. Specialization in certain career fields can be just as beneficial to someone as a college degree. Learning your child's interest and potential is key for success in helping your child find the proper college and or training to help them improve their chances for a better future.

Parents are justified in pressuring their teenage children to get a college education but they must maintain a realistic view of their expectations. Don't apply so much pressure that you cause your child to rebel and avoid college in order to retain control of his future. The parent's job should be to research the colleges and technical training colleges that are available. In addition to researching the continuing education that is available, the parent should know what interest their child. Combining the knowledge of what is available with what field or line of work the teenager is interested makes it easier to present your findings. Presenting information that shows you care about what will help them be successful in a field that interest them will guarantee more success in getting them to take time to move towards college or training. Pressuring your child

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