Dr. Owen,
What is your opinion or view on a two-track curriculum program, in which at some point in the secondary schools, students choose between continuing a liberal arts education for preparing for college while others choose a vocational-type track which provides job-related skills for such work as plumbing, electrians, mechanics, etc.?
I believe that a two track (or more) system of education makes perfect sense and is something we should be doings. We are so arrogant to think we know what is best for every student--and it is college! A robust system of career/vocational programs (like we had when I was in high school in the dark ages) would vastly improve the dropout problem we are facing. We are boring kids out of their minds with a hodge-podge of meaningless facts that they could care less about. The more academically inclined kids manage to endure what is boring and enjoy the excellent teachers who can overcome the TAKS mentality. The students who need to be up and moving around are just miserable. They start dropping out mentally in junior high, and physically in high school. Before they go, they turn into truants and terrible disruptions--just begging for something relevant to do.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing we need to be cautious of is that the choices are made 100% by the students with input from their parents--and not the school personnel. Too many times, I have seen the inclination to push minority/poor kids into vocational subjects and white/affluent kids into the AP classes. The choice needs to be completely open and each student supported in his/her decision.
I completely agree, and in fact this is something I feel very strongly about. My next question is what advice could you offer for future administrators who would like to effectively push this issue with hopes of being able to realistically implement multiple tracks in their schools?
ReplyDeleteThe challenge is to meet TAKS requirements and the 4 x 4 requirements, and still have room for anything else. We actually need reform at the state level--and probably nationally, too. NCLB tied us down tightly to an accountability standard that screams "college."
ReplyDeleteI know that WFISD has a vocational-track campus (I think it is Harrell) and somehow they have managed to work the system to get this in. As you progress through the EDLE program, you might use one of your project assignments to investigate this further.
Of course, it will all come down to your superintendent, board, and community. What will they want?