Monday, March 24, 2008

"Make believe" pseudo-vocational schools?

Take a minute to read this article from today's GTU. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/032408/geo_260984849.shtml This strikes me as an odd endeavor. It would seem that the primary objective is to raise scores on the CRCT and the GHSGT and increase the graduation rate. However, even though students will be segregated into "academies" based upon their chosen career paths, they will all be taught the same, undifferentiated curriculum - essentially a pre-college curriculum - with no actual vocational training whatsoever. Those who will not go to college will be no more prepared for immediate employment than they are now. In lieu of actual vocational training, it appears that these students will have been given the opportunity to engage in various role playing episodes to try to convince students of the relevance of various elements of the current curriculum to their chosen career paths. Seems to me that the money about to be spent on this might be better spent on ACTUAL vocational training, as opposed to play acting. There ought to be tremnedous opportunities in all of the building trades right here in Camden for the next 50 years or so. What do y'all think? Update: Thanks to Dr. John Tucker, principal of CCHS, who, in response to my e-mail of this morning, suggested that I take a look at the following website for info on the career academies. http://wildcat.camden.k12.ga.us:80/

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well just be grateful for the answer, pointing you to the website. Don't expect a real response to the theory you proposed. He was probably clueless on answering you directly. Ask Rick, they don't take recommendation or suggestions real well. Although everything they do to elevate the described area has failed. If somehow that system could be penetrated with "damned outsider" you MIGHT get some positive results.

You do shed light on a very valid point.

Jay Moreno said...

I haven't realy had a chance to study the website yet. I was up to my keister in course work all day and had claas tonight. I'll get to it tomorrow.

Are you, per chance, in the education biz?