I think that the public school system could get in deep trouble by doing anything that sounds like 'tracking' towards certain outcomes. There are bound to be charges of racism that come out of it. I remember in my high school it was the slower and less motivated kids that went to shop classes. I will probably be accused of racism just for suggesting this outcome.
>From a larger perspective, I think it is a shame that our schools are being converted into factories to produce workers rather than centers of learning to produce citizens. Why do we have to put so much emphasis on work? Productivity per worker has soared in the past couple of decades, but of course the worker won't make any more, because the money is taken by the people who own the machinery. Students should be educated to think critically about the society they are living in, and learn and understand the forces that they are up against. After they understand that, there is plenty of time left to learn how to work. -- Flames and sarcastic responses encounter my delete key! Tim Erickson said: > > > > Last week, we were involved in a discussion about Job Shadowing > programs in St. Paul High Schools. Today, I read that St. Paul high > schools are actually implementing a program that "will start churning > out certified young mechanics." > > According to the article, "It's all part of a push by the auto > industry, school districts and technical colleges to pull more > promising students into an increasingly high-tech career, educators > say." > > Now, I suspect - that this is probably a worthwhile program and the > "Automotive Service Center" has been there for 30 years. But, I can't > help but wonder about the implications of using our public school > system as an industry training program. > > Let me be clear, I'm undecided on this issue and eager to hear what > others have to say. In Germany (and I think other European countries) > this is very common. It has drawbacks, but also very real benefits > for some students. I'm not even sure that this is NEW to our schools. > > Anyone have any comments? > > -------------------------------------------------- > > St. Paul seeking students with lots of drive > James Walsh, Star Tribune > > http://www.startribune.com/stories/1592/4806885.html > > "While the St. Paul High School Automotive Service Center at Monroe > Community School has been around in some form for about 30 years, > this year the newly accredited center will start churning out > certified young mechanics. The center is open to all St. Paul high > school students. It joins seven other Minnesota high school programs > transforming their auto shop classes into professional training > programs." > > -------------------------------------------------- > > Tim Erickson > Hamline Midway > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- > ================================================= > Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com > St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim > ================================================= > > > > _____________________________________________ > NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > > Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ > > -- Bob Treumann, Saint Paul Please Note: Replies to this email address all go to the trash except where the subject line contains a recognized mailing list identifier, such as [TCMETRO] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
