They say when facing an imminent, quick death, your life flashes before your eyes. My only response to this prophetic statement is not really. However, surviving such an event will result in a little clarity as to how things got to that point, and a real opportunity to do things differently if you persevere.
A couple of years ago, I wrote an article about the imminent death of our auto tech program at the vocational center. This article detailed how the program had degenerated to a glorified day care center.
All of my findings were presented to the staff and administration of the vocational center as well as the county superintendent and the county board of education members. All persons associated with the vocational center were in complete agreement that the issues discussed and the methods that were proposed to correct the situation needed implementation. However, the county administrators and board members were interested in neither the problems nor the solutions.
I had worked several months to help modernize our county’s auto tech program only to learn the decision makers of our local education system were willing to let the program die.
Without quality students, the quality of the facility, staff and tools, we have a very slim chance of producing a quality potential candidate for hiring. Consequently, all of the other courses taught at the Vo-Tech were producing graduates with an equivalent, yet different skill set, with proficiency levels far below what entry level trade professions require. This program was dying a slow death.
For the next two years, many of my conversations with local county government officials regarding education in our community turned to a detailed analysis of my “expose” regarding trade-skills training at the Vo-Tech. It was like I had overdosed on “VoTechAgra.” It lasted longer than the four hours of discussions I had officially attended regarding as such, and as prescribed, I was consulting with doctors (in education) for help in reducing my opposition of the vocational center’s performance issues. “VoTechAgra,” although an imaginary drug, surprisingly came with a long list of side effects. To my amazement, most of the side effects were good, because people started to listen.
Like all things, people change, the times change, and county and state officials who are elected or appointed change. My rigid stance for providing an enhanced educational experience for vocational students got the attention of the new superintendent, the new board of education members, the new vocational center principal, and the new county commission members. I was invited to attended yet another board of education meeting. I was going to try to impress them this time.
During my presentation, all of the board members seemed enticed by my optimistic approach. The Vo-Tech center was found wanting of much needed re-tooling and adjustment as to how we actually staffed the school, how the students were recruited, and most importantly, the outcome we all most desperately desired. Several things got immediate attention:
1. More funding to update old systems.
2.. Additional staff to include an English instructor and a math instructor to alleviate scheduling issues for high school credits required for graduation. Plus, these classes will be geared towards helping the graduates enter the work force much faster.
3. An application process that makes these programs available for many more qualified students, instead of guidance counselors and high school principles simply placing problem students in a vocational program.
4. Moving the alternative-learning centers back to the high schools. This will give the staff more time with each student instead of spending the bulk of their time trying to keep unruly kids in order.
5. More community involvement with local businesses. Formation of a Workforce Development Council to assist the school with the types of training required to make graduates employable.
6. A mock-interview process conducted by community business leaders. This will help students make a good first impression, and also make them much more aware of what will be required to maintain employment.
7. A co-operative effort with the local community colleges to provide advanced education opportunities after graduation from the Vo-Tech programs.
8. The Vo-Tech graduates will receive equal recognition of course awards, certificates, and licenses acquired. This will be included with the traditional high school awards ceremony and not separate.
9. Additional course offerings more aligned with the job market in the area.
10. Marketing program to identify the Vocational Center as “Enhanced Education” or life skills training.
To say that I was satisfied is an understatement. If half of this actually comes to fruition, the finished product coming out of our vocational school will be awesome. I’ll keep you informed of the progress in future articles.
In the meantime, I encourage everyone to visit you local Vo-Tech and get involved if you see something lacking. You might have to take things into your own hands if you don’t get the attention you need.
The recent board of education meeting and a real-life crisis of mine – recently falling off of my two-story roof preface this article. As I was falling off the roof, my life did not flash before my eyes. My feet (as I was doing what can only be described as a “3/4 gainer” partial flip), my house’s power line and the concrete sidewalk I was desperately trying to avoid did, in fact, flash like a blur before my eyes. It was indeed a hard fall, which resulted in loss of consciousness, a concussion, a bad cut on my head, but unbelievably, no major injuries other than being sore to the touch.
During my ensuing journey to the hospital, I came in contact with many people, and afterwards my thoughts drifted (encouraged by a large injection of Demerol) as to how many of those people who had/might have/should have attended a vocational program. My next-door neighbor who brought me back to my senses was a carpenter by trade and he did building construction.
The 911 operator’s name was Judy. We service her car and she was retired from the military and probably went through an ROTC program. The ambulance service that picked me up was a customer of ours as well, so that speaks of our business. All seven of my employees, my wife and I did auto tech and clerical accounting.
The sirens blaring on the trip reminded me of the local guy that installs sirens/radios/lights on emergency vehicles in our area, and I know he did electrical engineering. All of the traffic lights we blew through needed repair from time to time, so I’m sure some of the city employees did general maintenance.
The ER nurse and assistants probably did nursing and/or phlebotomy. My doctor of the last 20 years came to see me, and I know he went to Vo-Tech for agriculture because he also raises about 100 acres of tomatoes.
After being discharged, I noticed a lot of work on the new wing of the hospital, and welders were running around like ants. How can anyone say that vocational training is any less important than traditional mainstream high school education? We need skilled training, or blue collar workers. Our way of life is greatly supported by them.
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