Comments on: Don’t Let Your Career Choose You! http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/07/dont-let-your-career-choose-you/ Mike Rowe's PR Campaign for Hard Work Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:27:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Fred Ruggiero http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/07/dont-let-your-career-choose-you/comment-page-1/#comment-33409 Fred Ruggiero Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:53:30 +0000 http://www.mikeroweworks.com/?p=6872#comment-33409 In addition to this article, I read the one about the percentage of high school students who claimed to be going to college after high school. Having been a vocational instructor who tried to recruit high school students into vocational / technical training, this really hit home with me. Due to the fact that, we in the USA have created an environment where, the only acceptable answer to the question, "what are you doing after high school graduation"? is "going to college". We have a large population of young folks who; 1. Did not learn how to learn (Reading comp., study habits, test taking skills...) while in high school and would most likely fail in college. 2. Were not interested in going to college but would not say so. 3. Could not afford, or did not know how to access the available resources to go to college. 4. Were embarrassed to admit they were going to a vocational / technical school. I believe this is because we do not coach students to plan their future. We know students learn in different ways, but we do not implement a solution. I know, this is the parents job. And while I am not one who believes government should solve our problems. I believe in finding solutions and solving problems. Clearly we are FAILING in this area! This is the same thinking that rejected General Math(Applied Math) in high school, because it was not preparing students for college, just for life. Having high school counselors performing clerical duties, along with the natural short term view of most young people, has created the college charade. I have seen students who wanted and were encouraged to learn and excel, and these students will do well regardless of the obstacles. The students who are labeled with a learning disability, do in fact have a counselor who works with the parents to develop a plan specifically for that student. NOW, TELL ME WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE MAJORITY OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO WILL JUST BARELY GRADUATE, OR WILL FAIL / DROP OUT? They, or their parents come running to the school at the beginning of second semester of the students senior year, asking what they can do. I have seen high schools with Applied Curriculum and vocational / technical schools that work by giving a hands on approach to learning math, English, reading... We simply are not tracking (an evil word for many educators / administrators) students early enough in order to set them on a path that will show them what if feels like to be successful. Once a student tastes success, and realizes that they are good at something, that they have value, they will then have the desire to continue to learn and succeed. Look at the educational system in Germany, which has been unchanged for centuries. BECAUSE IT WORKS! Please insert the definition of insanity here. Because if you keep doing what you have been doing, well you know. Just look around. I apologize for not spell checking this, I was focused on content. If you can not get past the errors, then you are most likely part of the problem and it would have been pointless for you to read this. fred In addition to this article, I read the one about the percentage of high school students who claimed to be going to college after high school.
Having been a vocational instructor who tried to recruit high school students into vocational / technical training, this really hit home with me.
Due to the fact that, we in the USA have created an environment where, the only acceptable answer to the question, “what are you doing after high school graduation”? is “going to college”.
We have a large population of young folks who;
1. Did not learn how to learn (Reading comp., study habits, test taking skills…) while in high school and would most likely fail in college.
2. Were not interested in going to college but would not say so.
3. Could not afford, or did not know how to access the available resources to go to college.
4. Were embarrassed to admit they were going to a vocational / technical school.
I believe this is because we do not coach students to plan their future.
We know students learn in different ways, but we do not implement a solution.
I know, this is the parents job. And while I am not one who believes government should solve our problems. I believe in finding solutions and solving problems.
Clearly we are FAILING in this area!
This is the same thinking that rejected General Math(Applied Math) in high school, because it was not preparing students for college, just for life.
Having high school counselors performing clerical duties, along with the natural short term view of most young people, has created the college charade.
I have seen students who wanted and were encouraged to learn and excel, and these students will do well regardless of the obstacles.
The students who are labeled with a learning disability, do in fact have a counselor who works with the parents to develop a plan specifically for that student.
NOW, TELL ME WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE MAJORITY OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO WILL JUST BARELY GRADUATE, OR WILL
FAIL / DROP OUT?
They, or their parents come running to the school at the beginning of second semester of the students senior year, asking what they can do.
I have seen high schools with Applied Curriculum and vocational / technical schools that work by giving a hands on approach to learning math, English, reading…
We simply are not tracking (an evil word for many educators / administrators) students early enough in order to set them on a path that will show them what if feels like to be successful.
Once a student tastes success, and realizes that they are good at something, that they have value, they will then have the desire to continue to learn and succeed.
Look at the educational system in Germany, which has been unchanged for centuries.
BECAUSE IT WORKS!
Please insert the definition of insanity here.
Because if you keep doing what you have been doing, well you know.
Just look around.

I apologize for not spell checking this, I was focused on content.
If you can not get past the errors, then you are most likely part of the problem and it would have been pointless for you to read this.

fred

]]> By: Heather Wood http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/07/dont-let-your-career-choose-you/comment-page-1/#comment-851 Heather Wood Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:27:40 +0000 http://www.mikeroweworks.com/?p=6872#comment-851 The Johnson O'conner Research Institute is the most thorough aptitude testing center in the US. They have been testing aptitudes since 1928 and have 11 testing centers in the US. Discovering your aptitudes helps you know how you are wired and what vocational pursuits will bring you the greatest success and satisfaction. Investing in the testing can save years of college tuition or time living without direction. check out their website. The Johnson O’conner Research Institute is the most thorough aptitude testing center in the US. They have been testing aptitudes since 1928 and have 11 testing centers in the US. Discovering your aptitudes helps you know how you are wired and what vocational pursuits will bring you the greatest success and satisfaction. Investing in the testing can save years of college tuition or time living without direction. check out their website.

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