I hope not to take up too much of your valuable time, however I’m compelled to speak to some concerns I have around the elimination of some of the Vocational Trades and Career Technology programs for high school students in our county. I’m hoping you may be so inclined to lend your voice to help save some of these programs or reintroduce them, as it seems some decisions have already been made. It seems these decisions were made under the cloak of darkness and people have not been made aware of the assault that is taking place by some individuals in charge of Career Technology Education. Yourself being a builder for many years I would think can appreciate how important skilled trades are to our area. For years the construction trades of the Career Technology Center have been a nursery for the many local contractors in our area. Several other occupations have been added over the years, such as Health occupations, Nursing Assisting, as well as Child care programs. New programs were added as times had changed and programs added, such as Manufacturing and CNC Machining.
The previous administration and political climate was not a fan of Vocational Training as I’m sure you are aware. The new expectation was that every child would go to college. The students who may have been interested in a trade or career that didn’t require a 4 year college track have been dissuaded from such and pushed to go to college. Not taking into consideration that all students just aren’t college material. There are students who can barely read yet are told they need to go to college and think they will be successful. That is until the reality of college and student loans smacks them in the face. The education agenda has changed and vocational programs are being axed. There are 2 rather important vocational programs and trades that have currently been eliminated from the Wicomico County curriculum for next year. This is Plumbing and Electronics. As would have it my husband is the Plumbing instructor. He’s been teaching plumbing for almost 19 years now. He came through the program when he was in high school. He worked in the trade, has his Master Plumbing and HVAC license and has thoroughly enjoyed teaching over this time. His supervisor came to him and told them his class was being eliminated. He also told him, he wanted to eliminate the program in 2012 but since, for the first time in the programs history, they had a Plumbing student make it to the VICA Skills National contest, it would look bad to get rid of the program at that point. When my husband would talk to kids, they had no idea what was even offered at the Career Technology Center. Several kids had said “man, if I knew I could have done this, I’d have been here!”
So I ask how do you teach a kid to build a house without teaching plumbing? I realize it’s not as flashy as some of the other trades, however it is a skilled construction trade and necessary. My husband has had many success stories of kids that otherwise wouldn’t have made it in college or have a decent job, learn the trade of plumbing and be successful people. I understand the Plumbing and electronics programs in Wicomico county aren’t the only casualties. I understand the electricity program has been eliminated in Worcester County. Eliminating these programs is of a great concern to me. With the aging population of professionals and trades people, there is already a need for trained skilled people. I know from hearing my husband talk to would be employers for his students, they are in need of more skilled people. If our local contractors can’t find them here locally, where will they find them? I believe they won’t and that will leave the projects to go to out of town contractors who bring out of town workers with them. They don’t contribute to our local economy and our area becomes more economically depressed. Construction has certainly taken a beating in recent years, however, it does seem to be turning around. But how long will that last when there is no skilled labor here to fill those jobs. I think you can agree, that the construction trades are easiest done by a younger person, and the existing pool of skilled labor here locally is certainly getting older, retiring, or just can’t physically do the work anymore. I love this area, I’ve raised my family here and hope to stay and see my grandchildren raised here but we are not in a metropolitan areas where white collar jobs are prevalent. The manufacturing jobs are limited, so we need skilled trades. In addition the plumbing program at the Wicomico Career Tech Center is one of only two programs that give the student NCCER credit towards their time for the Journeyman’s Licensing. And that is the Plumbing and HVAC programs. The plumbing program covered a wide range of information from septic systems, back flow certifications, as well as setting fixtures and plumbing the house. He covered residential and commercial mechanical work. Which are things that employers asked that the students know when they would come to work for them.
I hope as not to have wasted your time and hope to hear from you. I ask for your help to reinstate these programs to our Career Technology Center and have a campaign to make sure our kids understand what programs are available to them at the center and help to keep local jobs local.
The other information that I’ve come by, it that apparently the NEW Bennett Middle School is already over crowded! And to the point that there are too many kids on the lunch shifts for the cafeteria to hold and the Fire Marshall has deemed that unsafe. So the kids that are not going to eat a lunch are shuffled to the gym. And one of the administrators who was involved in the planning of Bennett Middle is also involved with the decisions being made in the Career Tech. Center. One of the decisions being made is that the construction group will no longer be building houses for the community. They want the kids and teachers to build portable classrooms. So instead of teaching the students how to build a residential house, they are going to teach them to build boxes, which isn’t going to help them much when it comes to experience in the real world. But it does save the BOE money, because they only have the cost of materials to pay for. Portable classrooms don’t have plumbing, so we don’t need that program anymore. They don’t have electronics built into them, so we don’t need that program either. So maybe the elimination of these two programs will help cover Paul Butlers new salary. It has also been said that a position was created for Jake Day to be paid by the county BOE and receive a pension from them. I’m told this was also the case with other local previously elected officials. The Board is already too heavy with Administration. Is that where our money should go? I don’t believe so. And I don’t believe the local media would explore or give any credence to this information. However when I discuss with people, they are outraged and have had no idea any of this was going on. I hope you can get some of this out so people will know.
Thank you for your time. I would prefer my name not be mentioned since my husband is a teacher, and we fear retaliation.
Concerned Citizen
Publishers Notes: It should be noted that County Executive Bob Culver has NO SAY whatsoever over the Wicomico Board of Education, nor does the County Council. The only say they have is funding in their budget.
It should also be noted that, (from what I heard) that very few, (if any) students signed up to participate in certain programs.
21 comments:
Bravo Michele
Dear sir or mam ,
In the past 8 years obama has dumb down the education system and suggested education wasn't as important in his administration. He said he would provide the things needed for the people who lack the monetary funds. He did exactly that , he gave them all they needed except the ability to talk right , to do any kind of math , to know any history , to dress right and many other items .
It will take years to get back on track and don't expect Culver to accomplish this in short order. The Wicomico county and MD. educational system is screwed up so bad because of the minority entitlements and black privilege that we may never recoup.
Everyone wants their children to succeed but many blacks don't have parents much less parents who care . Have a baby and collect 800 bucks a month plus all the bennies .
My son benefited tremendously from this program under the guidance of Mr Horner. Shame on you BOE. It is YOU BOE that continues to dumb down or students!
1:15 You sir are 1000% correct! I no longer have children in the public school system and because Of what I have witnessed over the last 7 or 8 years...I thank God everyday my kids are done!
Joe, kids aren't signing up for these classes because they have been told they can't. They have been told there will no longer be a plumbing class. You can't sign up if it isn't there !
1:28 said, "Joe, kids aren't signing up for these classes because they have been told they can't. They have been told there will no longer be a plumbing class. You can't sign up if it isn't there !"
Kids haven't been signing up for years now, this isn't new and it's not because they were told the program was shutting down.
I'm not trying to argue with you here. I've been told by a reliable source on this matter. You can't keep programs going if you can't get enough people to sign up.
It's a shame because in many cases there's more money in trades then there is with college degrees.
The home building is coming back fairly strong now, and I expect things to get even better in the building trades with Trump as President, and it will depend on our local leaders to attract manufacturing and other businesses to the area to see how far it goes. We're ALWAYS going to need skilled builders, plumbers. electricians and HVAC people as well as auto engine, transmission and body technicians. Without offering it in school, the young will have to learn the trades hands on and possibly from not so good "teaching" tradesmen.
Portable Classrooms Do have Plumbing. The Reason The county ELIMINATED those programs who due to lack of student interest. The popular ones are Nursing, Culinary Arts and also HVAC and Car repair. There is also an increasing mandates being made by the board of education (state level) which are taking away STUDENTS availability in CTE Programs. Also Wicomico County Caps the amount of students eligible for the programs due to CTE at Parkside. So all high school students who are eligible would be bused in from other high schools to Parkside. In my opinion I think each school should be an Technical School.
I found that blurb about Ireton and Day fascinating. Anyone else catch it?
I have a child going into high school. I will say that she was being heavily persuaded to sign up for a cte program. I love what they offer. My only issue for my child is she is an honors student that wants to be a history professor.
What does it benefit her and why is she being pushed? I thought it was very strange.
Many years ago my son took part in the Welding program and immediately got hired upon graduation...pay scales for welders and other tech students are great....a great opportunity for kids that are not college bound.
College = Brainwashed snowflakes a generation LOST.
Forward this to Mike Rowe. I think he would be very interested in this subject.
Thats because they do not promote the classes and/or encourage kids to take them
HE WHO HAD A TRADE HAD AN ESTATE ..LET MIND BE JOINED IN EQUAL DEGREE WITH SKILL.
All this starts at home....parents need to encourage there children to take these vocational classes....Obammy has made welfare the new vocational class...easier to live off the government than to work for a living!!!!
My son and myself took the time to learn about most trades , I'm good at all and my son is excellent at all , I retired from a national food company in management , my son has a degree and is well paid in the IT field . Knowledge of the trades have saved us tons of money , we do our own electrical , plumbing , carpentry ,drywall , painting and auto mechanics. If you want to learn a trade just show interest and go for it. I'm 74 and still hungry for knowledge.
Plumbing probably isn't a class these young-uns want to take because it involves crawling under houses and dealing with nasty water/toilet issues. Most don't want to deal with those things. They think they are above it or too privileged.
Well said 2:46.
3:17 college isn't for everyone and unfortunately for many of those that choose college, they will end up just as you described.
I didn't know it was offered there. I knew they built a wood frame building every year and then disassemble it and about auto shops, but nothing further than that. Are students informed of these opportunities by the BOE or is it a secret?
9:59 Thank you. That's what I've been trying to say. No one is signing up because they aren't promoting it. In fact they are doing the opposite. It's a shame. How will our homes be built. Who will complete the plumbing...the electric??
O I know ...the college graduate who can put it on paper but can't physically complete the job!
They have the capabilities to build a complete home that can be moved to a foundation and lived in. All they need to do is hook up outside ac unit and supply water, sewer, and electric. It's already even painted inside with hardwood floors and ceramic tiles.
The portables will have a bathroom. I'm told the carpentry students will be doing the plumbing.
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