Under the state's Education and Economic Development Act, South Carolina students now will have to choose a non-binding career path just before starting high school. Eighth-graders can choose from among 16 career options that include courses related to particular job fields. And, by the time they reach the 10th grade, they will choose a major, mapping out a graduation plan that establishes career goals and an educational strategy for achieving them.

We worry that forcing 14-year-olds to choose a career path can be too limiting for some. The student who chooses to be an accountant when he is 14, might choose to become an opera singer at 17. We suspect, however, that students will have ample leeway to change their plans if they feel the need.

The central purpose of the requirement is to give students a tangible goal other than simply earning a high school degree and to give them an idea of the practical ways an education can serve them. Too many South Carolina students are simply showing up with no particular goals. That's one reason that the state has one of the worst graduation rates in the nation, with only about half its students graduating on schedule.

Career development specialists say that giving a student a career goal helps make going to school more meaningful. Suddenly, they aren't simply slogging through classes; they're learning skills that eventually will help them earn a living.

We don't like the idea of channeling children toward an occupation before they're ready. But if they don't start thinking about their futures before they reach high school, it may be too late to get them motivated and on the right track.

The state can try this approach for a year or two and then review the results. It seems likely, however, that the bill will be a boon for students who need more direction in their lives.

IN SUMMARY
Requiring eighth-graders to choose a possible career path may help motivate them to graduate.