Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Career training

 What if PPS had spent the money used on consultants and experiments that amounted to nothing in this way; imagine a refurbished, centrally located Connelly:

"After about two decades of a typical curriculum in its middle school and high school, Boys Town is overhauling its class offerings to refocus on Father Flanagan’s original vision of vocational classes, which are increasingly in vogue. Now, they have a fancy new name: career-readiness courses.
“If I can get these kids some skills and a tool belt, they can walk out of here the day they graduate and get a job,” said Chuck Lambert, who teaches Boys Town’s two new construction classes. “They can survive...

The public school system in nearby Grand Island built the $5 million Career Pathways Institute, an old warehouse now outfitted for instruction in welding, general construction, information technology and manufacturing."

 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/us/boys-town-skilled-labor-vocational-courses.html?ref=education&_r=0

 

11 comments:

Questioner said...

$5 million for all that? PPS spent about that much just moving robotics around after the false Schenley asbestos scare- first to Peabody, which needed expensive renovations to house robotics, and then after just a couple of years to Allderdice.

Anonymous said...

The PPS brass will be very resistant to this idea. Why? Because it's not "hip" to train welders, carpenters, etc.

This is why Roosevelt/Lane got rid of most vocational ed, yet pushed to get all high school students to take physics.

So now the PPS brass can brag: Our students take physics! We are such an advanced district!

Sure, physics is appropriate for some students, just as varsity football is appropriate for some students. But not all.

And it's no matter that many students do not have a need for physics, or even the aptitude to take physics.

And it's no matter that there are many more jobs available in Pittsburgh for the tradespeople than there are for physicists (or engineers).

Public relations trumps all in the PPS. Welding out, physics in.

Mark Rauterkus said...

South Vo Tech is missed greatly.

Anonymous said...

Agreed Mark! So many kids are "hands on" talented, fix stuff kinda kids- Look at the Labor Day parade-- we are a city of great building trades etc. PPS admin/ Broad has total disregard for both city and community needs

Anonymous said...

Yes Questioner, South Vo Tech is missed greatly. It had so much going for it, so many wonderful programs.

It was good for trades-oriented students. And it was good for the city as a whole. But it didn't fit the PPS "vision", the "vision" that all students must be college-bound.

So South Vo Tech is gone. Crazy. Crazy and sad.

Anonymous said...

Shame on them, Roosevelt, lane for killing CTE. While pointing a finger, don't forget the principals who aided in getting rid of the teachers. Either by their bullying with excessive observations, focusing, critical incidents or just plain harassment. Others were closed by principals who would direct students to other programs and reducing enrollment in CTE programs. Numbers get too low, get rid of the program. Shame on them, shame on them all.

Anonymous said...

You're right, 10:58. Some principals would find ways to reduce enrollment in the CTE programs, then cut the programs due to lack of enrollment.

And at some of that was due to personality conflicts. The CTE teachers tended to be plain-spoken tradesmen, not the kiss-up types.

Furthermore, the CTE programs contributed little to the all-important math and English scores. Principals get bonuses, and promotions, based on those scores. No bonuses are awarded for teaching students a trade. So goodbye vocational ed.

Mark Rauterkus said...

How is that Robotics program going? Used to be in Schenley. Then to Peabody. Then to evaporation... Then to Dice, but Dice already had engineering.

It cost more than $1M to move it once.

Pittsburgh knows robots!

Anonymous said...

When you had someone who had an elitist
background such as Mark Roosevelt, combined with union officials who desire above everything to appear to be progressive, plus Board Members who are not people who see the BIG PICTURE and reality of Pgh, then you have the dissolution of the vocational program that has helped thousand of kids. I never understood this.

Anonymous said...

What happen to LIBERTY,LIFE.PURSUIT, OF HAPPINESS
for PPS STUDENTS to get some kind of SKILLS TRAINING to compete in the GLOBAL WORLD
Thank You

Anonymous said...

Generally, once you take something away, you can never (or won't)give it back. Principals who manage their budget will not dedicate money for supplies, staff and equipment to operate an expensive CTE program. When site-based management first came into the system, CTE administrators retained control over their program budget. Teachers were given budgets as to how much they had to use, but they still had money. Once the principals took over, it got very difficult. No money-no program.