Foundations of Education and Instructional Assessment/Curriculum/Post-High School

Vocational training vs. College Prep Is there a right way? By Ebony Cherry

Learning Targets - Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Vocational Schools. - Explain the advantages and disadvantages of College Prep course in high school. - Explain the advantages of Vocational Schools for children with disabilities.

“College graduates are not the only segment of the population who keep the world turning,” one Loganville mother wrote in an e-mail to state officials. “Expecting every child to attend college is the same as saying everyone is expected to become a doctor or lawyer.” (Gutierrez, 2007)

Introduction Webster’s dictionary defines graduation as, “the successful completion of a program of study”. But what happens after the principal says to turn your tassel? All seniors have been preparing for life after high school since they’ve entered in the ninth grade, however, how students have prepared can be very different. The goal of student A may be to go to college, so they prepare themselves by taking every honors course they can. They go for the highest diploma status in high school and make sure to apply themselves in as many extracurricular activities as their schedule permits. Student A takes the SATs, does well in all academic course work, and passes all standardized tests. Student B, however, does perform well academically, may be involved in only one after school program, and feels that going to school is a waste of time. So what happens to him after high school? Guidance counselors and teachers are not only there to help the college bound student, but to help the “unmotivated” student as well. They may suggest that the student attend a vocational or trade school to help aid student B find where he belongs in today’s society.

Advantages and disadvantages to a vocational/trade school “Thus, almost one-half of all graduates were found to be unprepared not only to compete for admissions at highly selective colleges, but by even the most liberal standards, unprepared to do college academic work. Only 5% of this group had taken vocational education” (Gray,1995). A vocational opportunity has many advantages for students after school. Students are trained by mentors in the field and they are able to get hands on experience. Students entering the vocational or trade school program also have the opportunity to be employed in that field with the completion of the program. An example of this would be in the field of nursing. Students entering a vocational school for nursing will be receiving enough hands on experience to be placed in a hospital. As with naming the advantages with a vocational school, it would be only fair to name the disadvantages. Students entering a vocational school could be wasting their time and money if they decide that it is not what they want to do for the rest of their life. The job market could also affect the decisions as the job you may want to do become obsolete.

Advantages and disadvantages to college prep courses For students who plan on attending a four year college or university after high school, their path is a little more straightforward. Because all children are given an opportunity to start off on the college bound path, freshmen are automatically placed in classes that can be built upon. Examples of these classes that freshmen take are English 9 and Earth Science. Freshmen students are also often placed in a foreign language and Algebra 1. From here, a student’s schedule get harder as they attempt honors and advanced placement courses. “Taking honors courses tells colleges that you are serious about college and are willing to go that extra mile” (ahdlf) and students also learn about time management during this rigorous time. Disadvantages for students going through college prep courses is that some students don’t know what they want to go into or aren’t ready. According to Tamar Lewin with the New York Times, only about half of this year's high school graduates have the reading skills they need to succeed in college, and even fewer are prepared for college-level science and math courses, according to a yearly report from ACT, which produces one of the nation's leading college admissions tests. Lawrence B. Schlack states that unless a senior can lists his strengths, talents, and abilities, and is comfortable with what he wants to do in life and where he needs to go to get there, then the senior should defer college at that time. He makes a reference to what Europeans call a “gap year” where the student takes time to travel and explore before making a decision to go into higher education.

Advantages of trade school for children with disabilities: “ No matter the official diagnosis, people who experience the challenges associated with disabilities must overcome many obstacles in order to succeed in school and work” Technology Transfer Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center. Individuals who are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act require transition planning. This planning includes the development of an individualized transition plan that deals with the needs of each student. Examples of these accommodations, according to the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities, is to develop and use social skills, develop and apply effective studying, test-preparation, test-taking, time-management, and note-taking strategies. The overall goal is to have the student select postsecondary education program and to be successful.

Conclusion: In conclusion, it is up to the parent and the teacher to give students options; however, it is up to the student to decide which direction he or she will take in life. And no matter which direction the student decides to take, it is up the teachers and parents to become the support system around the child.

Multiple Choice questions:

References: Gutierrez, B. (2007). College Prep Vs. Vo Tech: Is One Better Than The Other? Retrieved September 21, 2008, from Get Schooled. Web site: http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/education/entries/2007/09/12/college_prep_vs.html

Gray, K. (1995. Winter). Is Vocational Education Still Necessary? Investigating the Educational Effectiveness of the College Prep Curriculum. Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, 32(2). Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Virginia Tech database.

Schlack, L. (2007). Going to college is not always the best choice. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from Business Network. Website: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSD/is_3_64/ai_n18727360

Lewin, T. (2005). Many Going to College Are Not Ready, Report Says. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from New York Times. Website: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/17/education/17scores.html

Technology Transfer Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (2006). Learning Disability: Life After High School. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from LDonline. Website: http://www.ldonline.org/article/12609

National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (2004). Secondary to Postsecondary Education Transition Planning for Students with Learning Disabilities. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from LDonline. Website: http://www.ldonline.org/article/7756

EHow Education Editor (1999-2008). How to Select College Prep Courses. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from EHow. Website: http://www.ehow.com/how_18391_select-college-prep.html