When “Vocational Ed” Was the Alternative

by Nancy Gorman
CTE Copy Editor

A recent article in the Dallas Morning News presents a statement by Governor Rick Perry that “…all children should graduate and be college- and career-ready,” which was championed by Robert Scott, retiring as Education Commissioner (for the State of Texas).

A college preparatory course for high school students has long been a top-notch goal, and has been effectively providing a course plan that enables graduating students to proceed with higher education achievement.

What about non-college goals for students? Desiring an alternative plan can be preferable because of a language disparity, school location (perhaps not in a city or town that can provide alternative materials and resources), physical impairments of mobility (speech, hearing, vision, mental acuity, etc.). Time was when “vocational ed” was the alternative – taking “shop,” home ec (domestic economics education courses), office clerk (typing, shorthand, phones), phys ed, childcare, transportation jobs, retail jobs, and more. 

No specific high school courses were available for many such situations.

The Learning Technologies department here at University of North Texas (Denton) has developed and continues to expand and perfect course plans that provide direction and materials that are established and working for students and teachers in chosen specialty areas. These programs were been prepared nearly twenty years ago, but are improved, innovated, and updated through the efforts of education specialists and the Center for Knowledge Solutions professionals.

This may sound like a commercial for the Center (well, so it is!) but in this day and age of enormous costs for a college education, attention to “jobs” is ever-more critical. Think of the various areas that, if provided with trained, educated personnel, companies could benefit from the “best of the rest” to be hired.

Read the topics of expertise listed on this web site for a review of the sixteen areas of vocational development and education that can help provide pathways to the best learning available. You may be glad you did!

Resource:  Stutz, Terrence (Austin Bureau). (2012, May 2). Education chief quits after tumultuous tenure (Referring to Robert Scott retiring). The Dallas Morning News. p. 3B.