Reply to Why not close the achievement gap from the top down?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So I believe that beginning in middle school, there needs to be a track of students who aren’t succeeding with traditional school who can opt by choice to go to a trade school in HS that will put them on a track to have gainful employment. HS would be some core subject areas paired with a heavier focus on practical classes (basic finance skills, and apprenticeships (how to open and run a business in the trades) that will lead to an alternate path. Bring back the trade schools! [/quote]

Kids who aren't succeeding in traditional school often don't have the math or the comprehension skills to succeed in a trade.  Machinists need to know trig.  Carpenters need to know algebra.  The kids I see (I'm a teacher) who aren't succeeding in middle school, for example, [b]are kids who don't know their basic addition, subtraction and multiplication facts. [b] Everyone says the trades are for kids who can't hack college and I strongly disagree.  The trades are for kids who enjoy working with their hands, doing practical things, and applying strong high school skills.  The kids who aren't succeeding in high school could possibly be successful in a trade if their only issue is being bored in school.  But they have to be capable of learning more difficult skills.[/quote]

But these kids you are speaking about are a different subset; they are special needs kids, or kids who have an IEP with more substantial needs. They should have a choice as well. Core subjects and then “rotations” or “clinicals” in real life jobs: real estate sales, medical billing, grocery store manager, construction, reception, wait staff at restaurants.  They need to practice their executive functioning skills- getting to work on time, asking questions, managing schedules, and they can “try out” what they might like to do and become more confident in what line of work they might want to pursue. Coordinating these opportunities may be a nightmare, but maybe if there was some sort of tax credit for businesses to take on these students to help train them. Then the businesses could have a ready to go channel for hiring and these kids would have a better idea of what they are suited for. [/quote]

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