I ain't calling a English major to fix my AC in August

Let me start by saying that I never wanted this. I didn't want to write a blog that people I respect would read. I was really intrigued by Al's new position at the Izone and I thought that using a blog we could keep in contact and share our new experiences. So then he went and invited all of our mutual friends to follow the blog, no wonder I left him. Well there is a whole new pressure for me now. Now that I know you might be reading this (I'm sure you won't be) I have to make it somewhat interesting. My posts will not be as long as Al's, I don't have the ability to write as well as him (he is good, don't you think?) and writing long posts would severely slow my ability to post. Well, wish me luck for your sake and mine.

I came across two articles today about the state of our vocational schools.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/business/vocational-schools-face-deep-cuts-in-federal-funding.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

This was in today's New York York Times, it talks about how the Obama Administration is dealing with vocational schools.
"The administration has proposed a 20 percent reduction in its fiscal 2012 budget for career and technical education, to a little more than $1 billion, even as it seeks to increase overall education funding by 11 percent."
It is another example of how the Obama administration has made some questionable decisions on education (excluding when he highlighted The Met in one of his speeches on Education). There are less and less options for students coming out of High School. What will the choices be in the upcoming years? Will a 4 year school or work in retail/fast food job be the only choice that you have? This is a frightening thought, especially when studies show that connecting vocational skills and academic subjects can boost academic achievement.
"In another study of 200 teachers and 3,000 students in nine states, James R. Stone III, director of the National Research Center for Career & Technical Education at the University of Louisville, similarly found that high school students whose teachers were given specific training in how to incorporate academic concepts into vocational classes scored, on average, 17 to 21 percentile points higher on standardized math tests than students in classes where vocational teachers had not been trained in academic integration."
So if we have evidence that this works and is effective how do we get past our stigma of vocational studies? Especially since other countries are doing it.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1GbXS7/www.good.is/post/can-brazil-teach-us-how-to-get-over-our-vocational-education-snobbery/

Brazil, the favorite country of my 9 year old and an up and coming superpower is making a "serious investment in vocational education". How are they doing it?
Brazil has smartly set up the institutes to "offer everything from basic education to graduate courses and doctorates in professional areas." That means, for example, that people who want to be math teachers can attend a technical institute, right alongside people studying to be plumbers. And, if someone starts out taking technical courses, they can easily switch to a degree program.

They are providing their students with options while helping them see the relevance of their academic studies. I hope I can get a Brazilian AC repairman in August if I need it.

To watch more about the rising star of Brazil (Even though our USA Woman Soccer team beat them in an unbelievable game today), check this out:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7143554n


Joga Bonita,
Jeff