Preparing Students Early Is Key
New Skills for a New Generation
By Roy Pignatiello
Unfortunately, many high school graduates in this country are ill equipped for the real world because schools fail to educate and prepare their students for the future. Whether it is because teachers do not know the available resources and technologies out there or maybe because they choose not go the extra mile for their students, students are not receiving a well-rounded type of education. Educators at Euclid High School in Cleveland, Ohio, are making efforts to prevent their student from facing this reality by providing their students education that will prepare them for community college, four-year university, and/or employment.
Roy Pignatiello, an educator at Euclid High School, has developed a program to expose students to life after high school. Students can either team up with a local business to get hands-on technological experience or receive college credit for courses taken at a tech school or community college. The goals of the program are to help students become prepared college bound students and/or qualified candidates for future employment. Pignatiello believe high school students must get head start on exploring their career/college options and gain real-world, practical knowledge because of the increased competition in the job market due the economic downturn.
Piagnatiello is confident about the effectiveness of this program because besides educating students beyond the textbook, the program demonstrates the importance of community support. The school should not be the students’ only source of gaining technology and real-world knowledge, educators should reach out to local schools and organizations to help students hone in on their technology and networking (communication) skills.
If I taught at the high school level, implementing a program like this will certainly be a priority of mine. I was a college freshman once :) and I can identify with the feelings of being lost and confused. I am aware that time and resources may be an issue, but I cannot stress the importance of exposing students to the college and career choices they will eventually have to make. Starting early means being able to slowly introduce them to networking/interviewing skills, resume writing, major choices in college, college application process, etc. without overwhelming them; instead of just telling them about it, I will walk them the through the processes. With the help of local business and schools, this program will also enable me to educate my students in technologies that are beyond the school’s reach. For example, if one of my students is interested in studying accounting, a local accounting firm may allow him/her to gain hands-on experience with the latest computer software for accounting. Furthermore, the firm can help this student explore internship options and advise them on all the necessary steps he/she should take to achieve his/her career goal(s).
By Roy Pignatiello
Unfortunately, many high school graduates in this country are ill equipped for the real world because schools fail to educate and prepare their students for the future. Whether it is because teachers do not know the available resources and technologies out there or maybe because they choose not go the extra mile for their students, students are not receiving a well-rounded type of education. Educators at Euclid High School in Cleveland, Ohio, are making efforts to prevent their student from facing this reality by providing their students education that will prepare them for community college, four-year university, and/or employment.
Roy Pignatiello, an educator at Euclid High School, has developed a program to expose students to life after high school. Students can either team up with a local business to get hands-on technological experience or receive college credit for courses taken at a tech school or community college. The goals of the program are to help students become prepared college bound students and/or qualified candidates for future employment. Pignatiello believe high school students must get head start on exploring their career/college options and gain real-world, practical knowledge because of the increased competition in the job market due the economic downturn.
Piagnatiello is confident about the effectiveness of this program because besides educating students beyond the textbook, the program demonstrates the importance of community support. The school should not be the students’ only source of gaining technology and real-world knowledge, educators should reach out to local schools and organizations to help students hone in on their technology and networking (communication) skills.
If I taught at the high school level, implementing a program like this will certainly be a priority of mine. I was a college freshman once :) and I can identify with the feelings of being lost and confused. I am aware that time and resources may be an issue, but I cannot stress the importance of exposing students to the college and career choices they will eventually have to make. Starting early means being able to slowly introduce them to networking/interviewing skills, resume writing, major choices in college, college application process, etc. without overwhelming them; instead of just telling them about it, I will walk them the through the processes. With the help of local business and schools, this program will also enable me to educate my students in technologies that are beyond the school’s reach. For example, if one of my students is interested in studying accounting, a local accounting firm may allow him/her to gain hands-on experience with the latest computer software for accounting. Furthermore, the firm can help this student explore internship options and advise them on all the necessary steps he/she should take to achieve his/her career goal(s).
I am definately a proponent for this type of exposure in our high schools. It seems as though the only option my high school ever gave its students was to go to college after graduation. I was lucky enough to know that I did want to go to college. Many students, however, do not picture college in their future and that's ok because college is not for everyone. High schools around the United States should provide their students with many different options to look into. Getting local companies and offices involved is a good way to do that. Also, having classes or internships would also help those students that know they won't be going to college.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea for high school students, in my high school we had different type of programs: 1) was for those who wanted to just graduate, 2) we had the help if we wanted to attend either a community or 4-year college, and 3) we had a program were if students knew what they wanted to do as a career they would begin to work and take courses in it. For example nursing, banking, and more. For many students at my school this really helped them to see that there are options that college is not the only option in life. So, I think programs like those really help students with life and their education.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fantastic idea to expose high school students with the tech skills and knowledge that they need whether they want to go to trade school, work in retail, or attend a four-year university. My dad works with and teaches for a program that helps train high school students to work in entry-level power plant tech jobs, giving them experience with the technology so that they have a good-paying job and experience even when they graduate from high school, and it has great success. There should be similar programs for students with different educational or vocational goals allowing them more hands-on, apprentice type work with technology (and other skills) before they embark on their lives post high school.
ReplyDelete