I am a construction trades teacher in Arizona. Although my program is strong it seems as though ” vocational” education is taking a back seat to a collage prep courses. ” Every student is going to college” I hear this all the time from counselors and administration.
My question is, don’t we still need shop classes, and young people how can work with their hands and can think?”
Thank you for your input,
Brad Graham
Const. Tech Teacher
Replies
In my opinion everyone should learn to work with their hands -- the rudiments of a manual trade. "Shop" and "home ec" should be manditory in high school AND college (and both genders should experience both). Of course, traditional "shop" and "home ec" classes are commonly just a glorified study hall, and how many people need yet another bowling pin table lamp or quilted apron?
But, eg, North High School in Fargo ND has had (until recent budget cuts) a program where they built a house each year, on the school grounds. And I understand that many high schools have auto shop.
(But that's "liberal" education (in the truest sense), and anything "liberal" is suspect.)
Yes we do.
Individual shops in our area schools (around Toledo, Oh) I think have pretty much dried up and disposed of their tools. However, in our consolidated area vocational school (several counties) they have just built a brand new facility. The old one's shop was dated but the curriculum for some of the bldg trades was pretty impressive.
Take a look here: http://www.pentacareercenter.org/
While I'm sure there's some young folks they "put" there because they "can't ' make it in the more college prep arena, many talented kids come out of their system. They've got much more than shop class available. Matter of fact, if you could live next door to the place, all your services could be taken care of.
This from a guy who took 6 wks of wood, 6 wks of metal in high school. Went to college for 4 yrs after HS and am finishing my 38th yr in the carpentry trade.
If I'd only taken a couple hours of business, I'da been somebody.
I don't believe in a totally segregated curriculum either. The truly well rounded education is the goal I'd like to see for all those that wanted it. I make a living off of folks that can only do one thing, everything else they hire out. But still, that's no way to live.