Berryman, on the other hand, cautions about overselling the workplace as an educating place. If the employer focuses on high skills and modern methods of teaching, though, the training could be quite good. The downside, as other researchers have pointed out, is that the turnover among supervisors at workplaces creates situations where novices are training novices. A Few Options Do not let schools off the hook in preparing youth for an increasingly high-skill economy, Berryman advises. Options are available, though not all are well-defined or have been implemented properly.
Work experience is an important component.
Integration of academic and vocational education. Also emphasized in federal vocational programs, this model seeks to reform the school curriculum, although real work experiences often are part of the overall effort. Through a grant from the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, SREB has expanded to l00 sites in l9 states and is expected to grow to 300 sites by the end of 1994. Originating many years ago in Arkansas and Georgia, this model engages high school students in identifying businesses that might be supported locally, especially in rural areas. Enterprises help students develop and maintain businesses such as retail stores, bicycle repair shops, or child care facilities.