We've Got It Backwards

It seems like everywhere I turn these days I see some version of this phrase:

Are you college ready?

Now I don't doubt the sincerity of the intent behind that phrase, or that the folks promoting it don't want what's best for our students. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if a more interesting question might be:

Is college ready for you?

And, yes, feel free to substitute "high school" in for "college" in that sentence. I think that question might lead to some more interesting - and possibly uncomfortable - conversations.

The purpose of education is not (or at least should not be) to prepare you to do well in school.