Earlier this week, I wrote about how Dan Walters missed the mark on California’s job woes. In his latest column, however, Walters nailed it on education. He all but declared California’s recently imposed high school exit exam a failure and the continued one-size-fits-all education system a serious threat to our children and workforce.
CMTA and the many manufacturers it represents (along with the emerging torch bearer for the state’s career technical education needs, the Get REAL coalition) gives equal respect for all students’ dreams by demanding non-discriminatory educational resources to attain those dreams. A mantra that has fallen flat in California’s $60 billion education community. That notion is substantiated by the fact that, over the past 10 years, high school dropouts have increased by 27 percent (reaching annual dropout rates around 35 percent) while crucial and inspiring technical courses have declined by 20 percent (and 50 percent over last two decades).
Career technical education is often referred to in a positive light by the media and policymakers. In fact there have been 253 CTE related bills introduced between 2000 and 2008, but take a look at recent policies and a few comments during the continued CTE devastation. Bottom line – rhetoric is getting our students nowhere in an education system that continues to grow in a one-size-fits-all manner.
