New way of educating our youth

Traveler

Traveler

Senior Member
Location
San Diego County
Lately I have been thing about a new way of educating high-schoolers.

It is a statistical certainty that a percentage of our youth are not bound for college. This has nothing to do with color, race, national origin or gender.

It seems to me that it would be better to prepare the above mentioned students for some specific productive trade, than to fill their heads with information they will never use or even think about ever again. Seriously, how many of us could, at age 50+ solve a basic algebra question which would be on the final exam? My guess is darn few.

So, might it be better to teach said students an excellent paying trade ?

Prior to occupational training the student would be given a battery of tests to determine not only aptitude but also his/her specific interests.

Their are certain trades which will always be in high demand. A few examples: electrician, plumber, carpenter, chef.

My thinking is 3+1/2 days per week as an on the job apprentice and 1+1/2 days of classroom work.

It seems quite likely that after 4 years, the new high school grad would be in a position to immediately begin earning a more than living wage and better prepared to take on the responsibilities of a potential marriage.

As an added advantage, the student would, at the end of the work day, be ready for a meal and a good nights sleep. Perhaps too tired to 'hang out' in the streets.

I'm not wedded to this idea but it seems worthy of discussion.

What say you ? Pro and cons ?
 

We have a state program that has been around since the 1970's called BOCES that combines high school with technical training.

It also offers adult training and advanced training for various technical skills.

 
Interesting. Are the students taught by professional tradesmen or by regular teaches ?
 

Traveler said:
Interesting. Are the students taught by professional tradesmen or by regular teaches ?
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It is a combination.

Some are subject matter experts in carpentry, heavy machinery, auto body, etc... with a training certificate and some are state certified teachers.

This is a picture of the shell for a modular home that they built at our local BOCES a couple of years ago. The kids did the framing, roofing, siding, rough electrical, etc... The units are auctioned off to recoup the money for materials and the purchaser does the interior finish work.

50496_7708329.jpg
 
In addition to offering programs like HVAC, Cosmetology, Auto Tech, and cooking, BOCES now has a new program for multilingual students. They can earn the Seal of Biliteracy after completing a comprehensive program for two or more languages. This may help them obtain college acceptances, and it will definitely help them in future job interviews. Some employers have difficulty filling positions requiring fluency in two languages and here is one solution.

Many BOCES students are currently serving as interns in NY businesses until our high schools close later in June.
 
In my area there's nothing "new' about it. When I attended high school, in the 1948 -51, there was a Vocational high school in the same small city. The vocational high school is now a regional school and (I think) as large if not larger than the conventional high school. Of our kids and grandkids some have attended one and some the other. Our youngest grandson graduated from "Voke" after studying Internet Technology and is now at the State University. "Voke" prepares kids for either college subjects or the traditional craftsman's skills. The instructors are all board certified as teachers but many are professional tradesmen.
 
Nope -- even back when I was in high school in the early 60s, the schools here offered a thing called Distributive Education, where students could work and train as sort of apprentices to skilled tradesmen for part of their school day, with the goal of having the students qualified for jobs in a trade upon graduation.
 
The students, under guidance, even built a small home here. I believe it was a cape style.

In more remote ares they have Vo-Ag schools.... trades and agriculture both. Students have taken testing for aptitudes are trade preferencs for years.
 
RadishRose said:
Agree with DaveA. We've had "trade schools" ever since I can remember. Sometimes they're called technical high schools. Nothing new.
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Always had trade schools in La. where I grew up. Don't know about Texas as I have lived here a long time but don't know if we have that system here.
 
Yep! We’ve had trade schools for as long as I remember. We also had trade education as an option with an apprenticeship to those who qualified. It was great for some students who didn’t want the standard education and most excelled at their chosen field. It’s certainly not a new thing
 
"Geometry in Construction" helps students learn geometry by building houses. The program began in Loveland, Colorado 12 years ago and has since expanded to 200 schools. The goal is to teach kids how math can be applied to the real world. I saw it on the News 3 nights ago.

500 more schools will be added this summer as training is completed.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6l44wg




 
As long as a trade school student can get a decent paying job upon completion of the program then I have no complaints. However, I seems to me that too many of our students can not even write a proper paragraph nor do they have ANY skills upon graduation from high school.

Perhaps, some of our readers had an option in school. The only option I had was metal shop or wood shop. I wanted to learn how to become a chef. I was told that "cooking classes" were for girls only. (Oh, no. A boy who was discriminated against. Feminists love to believe that only they can be victims of discrimination)
 
I took woodworking starting in grade 7 & 8 . I learned to use all kinds of machinery and made bowls and a folding chair but I also took home economics and learned to cook & sew at the same time. Whether anyone was making fun of me, I have no idea cause I was too involved learning and having fun to even care or notice.

To this day I still cook and do woodworking.
 
Do those vocational schools provide training in how to balance checkbooks, the real cost of borrowing, and other financial basics? Trade skill + personal business vocabulary/literacy would be ideal!
 
I don't see why it has to be either/or. Kids can be taught a useful trade, and at the same time acquire literacy, the fundamentals of science and math, history, cultural matters such as civics, something about music and art., etc.
Why does one preclude the other?
 
Sunny said:
I don't see why it has to be either/or. Kids can be taught a useful trade, and at the same time acquire literacy, the fundamentals of science and math, history, cultural matters such as civics, something about music and art., etc.
Why does one preclude the other?
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I wasn't clear in what I wanted to say -- I just think that it would be helpful for any craftsperson to gain business basics, and just wondered what emphasis, if any, is placed on that learning in vocational schools specifically. I know that sometimes those skills are overlooked in "standard" high schools.
 
Sunny said:
I don't see why it has to be either/or. Kids can be taught a useful trade, and at the same time acquire literacy, the fundamentals of science and math, history, cultural matters such as civics, something about music and art., etc.
Why does one preclude the other?
Click to expand...


I agree that it would be a good thing to have both. However, if we look at the bottom 1/3rd of students, (IQ's of < 85) I think it is too much to hope for. That bottom 1/3rd are doomed to a life of hard physical labor or the simplest of occupations.

I know this may sound hard and unfeeling but as they say, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear". For some people, straight factory work, 8 hours/day, is all they will ever be capable of.

For the middle 1/3rd, plumbing, for example, can be an occupation earning $100,000+/yr. This group can most benefit from a solid training in a skilled trade.

For the upper 1/3rd, college may be the best route.

During my working life, I have employed hundreds of people. The best of the best, stand out. I advanced them as quickly as possible. One fellow, by name of Jose, was originally hired as a house painter. Within 6 months I moved him to head painter. Within 2 years I made him foreman over 120 men.

Jose was a great guy, honest, trustworthy, and a hard worker. I liked him a lot. But, all he ever wanted out of life, however, was to earn a good paycheck then go home to his wife, have a big meal, drink a few beers and watch TV.
 
I subbed in a high school class last year that taught finances...balancing a checkbook, savings account, taking out an auto loan, and home mortgages. You would be surprised at the improvements in public education since your schooldays.

The school also requires every senior boy and girl to spend a few days taking care of a baby doll. The doll travels around the school with them, and goes home with them overnight. Parenting Skills 101.
 
Butterfly said:
Nope -- even back when I was in high school in the early 60s, the schools here offered a thing called Distributive Education, where students could work and train as sort of apprentices to skilled tradesmen for part of their school day, with the goal of having the students qualified for jobs in a trade upon graduation.
Click to expand...
Same here.

As far as education goes, I'd like to see more emphasis on children learning the basics. Readin', writin' and 'ritmetic. How many high school graduates nowadays can tell you what 10% of a dollar is? Sad, really.
 
TonyK said:
I subbed in a high school class last year that taught finances...balancing a checkbook, savings account, taking out an auto loan, and home mortgages. You would be surprised at the improvements in public education since your schooldays.

The school also requires every senior boy and girl to spend a few days taking care of a baby doll. The doll travels around the school with them, and goes home with them overnight. Parenting Skills 101.
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Good to hear, Tony! I attended parochial schools, where we had to take business courses -- been a while though, so am glad to know that personal finance is now part of regular curriculum. Love the "baby doll" idea, too - brilliant! Thanks for your reply!
 
Yes, we always had "trade schools" but I think in recent years the focus seems to be more about college prep rather than life skills prep. Some kids come out of school knowing all about tech stuff, but not about When I was a kid, my dad made sure I knew how to check things under the hood. And to change a tire. I did not have to learn to fix everything..but at least be able to id, sort of, what that funny noise was coming from. Or when to have oil changed.
 

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