Reply to "I thought 50% for no work was okay and I was wrong"

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Reply to ""I thought 50% for no work was okay and I was wrong""

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I mean, this is one anecdotal point of view.  I can give you an anecdote of the other side.  My F students are continually trying because the D is close.  They are working all year, vs. before when after 1st quarter they'd be behavior issues because there was statistically no way for them to pass unless they got As the rest of the year.

This is also Jay Matthews, historically not a fan of public schools.[/quote]

No offense but is the goal really to try and pass through kids with D's? I mean, I suppose that gets us to the graduation percentage we seem to want but I don't take that as a sign of a an initiative working. [/quote]

As the parent of a kid with a low IQ who D’d out of high school, I can tell you that it is absolutely a service to both kids and society to do what it takes to get a kid a HS diploma. A HS diploma is the gateway to a full time job with health insurance and paid sick leave,’all of which benefits both the kid and the rest of us who will not have to support him through Medicaid, public assistance and all of those other things that come with unemployment.

Kids who D out aren’t going to compete for college seats and educational monies. But they might be driving your public transportation buses and trains, fixing your cars and stocking your grocery shelves. We need them just as much as we need those who have the capability to go to college. And for those that think you can get a job that is full time with insurance and paid leave without a HS diploma, I am betting they never tried.  Every vocational counselor will tell you, lack of a HS diploma is one of the most serious impediments to securing employment. [/quote]

I would argue that this is why we need better VoTech programs in FCPS instead of looking to get people to graduate with D's.[/quote]

There are good vo techs. And I agree there should be more programs. But That doesn’t fix the problem. A HS diploma still requires English and Math every year, two years of foreign language, etc. And jobs require a HS diploma even if you have a trade skill. [/quote]

A VoTech school would provide those classes. They would not have AP available because the kids are not planning on college so they don't need AP, at least that is how VoTech worked when I was in school. The kids attended a school that included all the requirements needed for graduation from HS but the school had trade programs that allowed kids to complete the steps for whatever certification they needed to enter a trade when they were done with HS. If anything, the reading and math programs in a real VoTech program work beter for kids because they end up teaching math in a way that makes sense for kids entering a trade. You figure out why understanding fractions and ratios and stats is important when you are learning how those concepts apply to construction or cars or welding. Now the math you are learning means something because it is a part of your job and not just an abstract concept. The program had partnerships with different trades so that the students were introduced to the trades and had opportunities similar to internships. They graduated with a regular High School diploma and were ready to step into the trade of their choice.

VoTech schools are not just offering wood shop or metal shop or an auto shop, they are full programs. They are amazing and great for kids who are not interested in college and want to explore different options for other job paths. They help kids who are similar hang together and get through the High School requirements while choosing a different career path.

It is kind of amazing that FCPS has these academies but doesn't seem to offer a proper VoTech experience, especially when every stat out there shows that less then 50% of Americans have a college degree. HS should be offering solid, legit paths for kids who know that they are not interested in college early on. T[/quote]

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