SUPPORT THE NON-COLLEGE BOUND

“Not everyone is academically inclined — and there’s nothing wrong with that. Preparing your kids for whatever their future brings is an act of mutuality, and one of the ways we look out for those we love. Maybe that will be college, but maybe it will be something less traditional.
More than two-thirds of high school graduates go on to college , and a lot of financial resources and planning go into preparing for it. But there can be logical and compelling reasons to postpone college or skip it altogether.  .  .  . ”  (“Alternatives for the non-college bound” by Amy Fontinelle, MassMutual)

“From a young age, children are told that they can grow up to be whatever they want to be. While some may harbor dreams of being an astronaut or a politician, others may be drawn to different fields – some of which don’t necessarily require a four-year degree.

Whether these young people turn to certificate programs or associate’s degrees to further vocational careers depends on the future they’re searching for, but they may not be getting the attention they deserve from high schools.  .  .  . “   (“Schools May Overlook Non-College Bound Students, Study Shows,” by Vanessa Denice, US NEWS)

E-Learning has the potential to help change that situation. 

And, that situation must change!

In fact, we should all look forward to the impending fall of the wall between business and education — the wall that has separated the two sectors for many years,

Thankfully, the pressure of global economic competition is leading many to plan for that barrier’s demise. 

The historical separation lies between business and that sector of the educational system responsible for the 75% or so of high school students who are not likely to earn a college baccalaureate degree.  These students eventually comprise the majority of America’s front-line workforce, and the prosperity of this country depends on them.

Compared to other countries, American front-line workers lag far behind in the sophisticated skills needed to compete internationally:  communications, math, science, conceptual thinking, flexibility, responsiveness, and technological expertise.  

Other industrialized nations have already implemented policies for educating their workforce.  They offer comprehensive public education programs for the non-college-bound student.  These programs all but obliterate the conventional lines between education and training.

In our country, e-Learning is singularly poised to become the bridge for this needed transition — because it can successfully communicate with today’s typical workforce population — something that can no longer be effectively accomplished with the old “lecture/reading/testing” model.

We’d better get started.

Without a highly trained and well educated workforce we will find ourselves at a competitive disadvantage.

America’s blue collar workforce is our lifeblood.  These smart, talented individuals will create, build and mold much of our future.

They built this country once.  They can do so again!  And, we can help them by continuing to support strong vocational education programs in our local high schools and community colleges.

More on Wednesday  –  –  –

 — Bill Walton, co-Founder, ITC Learning
December 3, 2018
  www.itclearning.com/blog (Mondays & Wednesdays)

 “THE WORLD RELIES ON THE HANDS OF ITS MEN AND WOMEN”

 (This is a personal blog.  Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner, jhbwalton@gmail.com an independent consultant.  They do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in a professional or personal capacity.)