I will take this on. I feel quite strongly, having been educated in Canadian schools that we are making a huge mistake if we are not providing a trade track in high schools right alongside the academic track, and here is why I say this.
We have been focusing so much on trying to get ALL students to go on to a four year college, even students that do not want to necessarily do this. I think we should focus more on getting them interested in some type of education beyond high school, but there are clearly students that would be more cut out for opportunities that are more trade related and do not require a four year college degree, Let's face it, not all students want to go the four year route to a successful job. When I went to school in Canada in Edmonton, Alberta, we had opportunities for both in the public school system, and many students had the pleasure of learning basic office skills such as word processing, shorthand, and others learned drafting, auto mechanics, and still others Beauty Culture and our high school allowed for having your car repaired by a class learning to make repairs, and you could set up an appointment with the Beauty School to have your hair cut and styled and even permed or colored at reduced rate, by students that were learning their trade. One of the students that cut my hair all through high school left and got a job with a salon near by, and within two years had her own salon and ended up finding success in this area. I say that we need all students to focus on passing the BST's however, if we get this accomplished in the elementary grades, where these basics should be engrained, students should be able to choose the future education track they wish to. Harding is a great example of where there is a fully functioning printing business and students in graphic arts that have interest in the printing business can get the experience they need to move right into the workplace upon graduation. In a country like America, where we take so much pride in our independence and the ability to control our individual destinies and career choices, why shouldn't we offer these choices in our high schools? I have to recall some discussions on this list with school board members that keep emphasizing how much we value our choice in SPPS, with regards to where we CHOOSE our children to attend school. I would rather see more choice of programs in each school and allow students to really invest in their future, whether it involves a four year college degree or a transition into trades. I have even heard of students that choose to go the trade education route first and then once they establish themselves in a career of interest, further their education through tuition benefits at the companies they end up in and end up using their trade to catapult their educational experiences later through workplace benefits. Doesn't this make sense? Pamela Ellison Como Park Saint Paul > 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/ > ----------------------------------------- Join ISP.COM today - $8.95 internet , less than 1/2 the cost of AOL Try us out, http://www.isp.com/ _____________________________________________ 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/
