Vocational Training in High School

I will respond to his contentions, and then offer my own conclusion for this round. 1. Budget Cuts Vocational programs should be unaffected by budget cuts, in that the interested fields should be supporting them. Take for instance the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton, MA. They have various sponsors including Monster. com, Milford Regional Hospital, and other local business and even colleges. The school is supported by both tuition students, as well as scholarships. Because vocational programs are career oriented, the high school actually saves money because less time is given in areas that don't enhance a particular career path. The fact that vocational programs would be supported by the particular field, and the program would be structured around the field, students can be prepared better, faster, more thoroughly due to lower teacher-student ratios, and the result is a lower dropout rate, preparedness for specific career path in college, early career goal setting, networking with employers, and a steady stream of employees into in-demand fields. I am not proposing vocational programs be offered in schools where they are not currently offered (which I could, in fact, argue would be a financial benefit to the school). I am proposing that current programs be geared to in-demand jobs, particularly those listed in US News as the top jobs for 2009 and beyond, many of which are largely unknown to the general public. 2. Alteration of the position of schools a. Nationwide Implementation I have not suggested nationwide implementation of new programs. I would, however, support career fields reaching out to High Schools to implement programs at their expense. Many in-demand fields are growing, and will continue to grow, and will be soon enough in desperate demand for new employees. I give the example of Biomedical Equipment Technician- #2 on the list of the US News "Best Jobs for 2009", and Yahoo's list of "Recession Proof Jobs" (it was also #8 on the 2008 US News list of "Best Jobs"). A recent survey conducted by Steve Bezanson, a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician and a professor at a college vocational program for Biomeds showed that around 1,400 Biomeds will be retiring per year over the next 15 years. With all the college programs currently in place, and at full capacity (which rarely occurs), the schools have the ability to put back into the field less than 1,000 technicians per year. There are currently 38,000 Biomedical Equipment Technicians nationwide and it is already an in-demand job. With a deficit of 400 per year over the next 15 years, it is a ripe field for new blood. Bmetsonline. com, in the same survey, showed that the vast majority of Biomeds are white males over 50. Those retiring have an average of 20-30 years experience. If the field does not go after High Schools, start advertising programs in college, and making it's voice heard the field will be in jeopardy of not being able to fill these positions. Many young people who hear about the field become ecstatic at the thought of a field that employs the highest levels of civilian technology, networking, computer architecture, pneumatics, electronics, radiology, lasers, etc. etc. etc. , and the pay and ease of entering into the field makes it that much more attractive. b. Secluding students to regional occupations No one would force students into vocational programs, but the thought of being able to enter a field directly after High School, and help with college tuition while working within the field and gaining experience should be a plus to most students who are not currently offered those opportunities. Regional jobs would be, for instance, IBM, HP, Silicon Graphics and others on the West Coast, alternative energy, wind power, agriculture, and healthcare in the Midwest, auto manufacturing, deep sea exploration, healthcare, agriculture, geography (for oil drilling, etc. ), and other fields in the South, and a Myriad of fields in the Northeast- JUST to name a few. Healthcare, for instance, is not regional- it is nationwide. Electronics and other technologies is not regional- it is nationwide. 3. High School can be premature Many of the best athletes- football, baseball, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, boxing, etc. start at even lower ages, and do it for the rest of their life. Indeed the vast majority of professional athletes have been in their "career field" the vast majority of their- if not at least throughout High School. MANY students enter college with a major. Their major is career oriented because most students who go to college already know what they want to be. Vocational programs are supported and promoted by colleges because it prepares students for their majors. Even the military takes part in "vocational preparation" through ROTC which prepares "children" for military life. Many ROTC cadets do end up spending their careers in the military, and as with athletes, many career military personnel started at a very early age- if at least throughout High School. Vocational programs would not limit students, rather they would expose students to fields they may not have known they would like. With options- as with the school I mentioned in the first paragraph- as great as 15 different vocational programs, students will be more knowledgeable of their options, and thus make more informed decision that may impact the rest of their lives. High School is, in fact, the point where children SHOULD become adults, and the law reflects this notion (at 18 you are legally an adult). Conclusion: US News lists 30 Best Careers for 2009. Many are largely unknown to students in High School, and allow for early preparation and easy entry into the field: Biomedical Equipment Technician, Firefighter, Optometrist, Pharmacist, Physician's Assistant, Systems Analyst, Health Policy Specialist, etc. There are many other in-demand jobs listed on other websites, and even recession proof jobs. Vocational High School Programs- save for the few which offer upwards of 15 options- currently concentrate on fields such as woodshop, upholstery, cosmetology, autoshop, architecture, carpentry, and other jobs that are not in high demand, but used to be in the 70's and 80's. I think it is high time vocational programs catch up, and start offering what will serve the students in the long run. When I was in High School there were about 50 students enrolled in my school district's vocational high school program (from my high school), and about another 450 attended the school for about 4 hours a day in conjunction with their regular High School curriculum. Many were proud to be able to fix a car, re-upholster the back seat, design a cabinet, do your hair and makeup, or bake you a cake (the last one is still a great option, in my opinion). I was interested in electronics, as my father ran a business installing car stereos and alarms, and was always using inventive ways to make his customer's happy. I was not offered electronics in High School, though I know it may be offered now. I decided to follow this vice, and joined the Army as an Electronic Warfare Systems Repair Tech (yes, when I was 18), and after a year I wanted to expand this knowledge and became a Biomedical Equipment Technician. Since the age of 23, when I left the Army, I have consistently been paid more than any of my parents, siblings, or High School buddies. I have trained uneducated people right off the street, and they have gone on to be as successful as myself. It is not a difficult field, but the training and exposure is vital. I know that if I had the opportunity to learn electronics in HS I would only be that much better, and I firmly believe that expanding vocational programs and concentrating on in-demand fields will be beneficial for all