Vocational Education

* I am a retired craftsman who returned to a community college to train students in an occupation that treated me well for close to four decades. I did not complete my baccalaureate and master’s degrees until I returned to teaching--I did not need them to be a competent tradesman and businessman.

While the steps reported in “Schools Tackling Job Training Needs” (Sept. 6) are at least a start, I note some very necessary prerequisites. Every student should be getting at least an introductory technological course as early as possible. Math courses can be made desirable if the math is relevant, and by relevant I am not referring to some of the nonsensical examples I have seen in my children’s and my granddaughter’s classes. I also did not see the return of the traditional trade school where as a student I received my first two years’ apprenticeship training. The problem seems to be that parents shudder at the thought of their child going to a vocational school.

What I found missing in the proposed program, and find missing in many of my younger students, is the simple lessons they should have been taught at home. Too many young persons have little or no work ethic to put out an “honest eight.” They have no idea what I’m talking about when I cajole them to use their time wisely. But most of all, they are not willing to make any kind of a sacrifice that may interfere in their personal pleasures.

If educators follow the current unsuccessful mode, using the excuse that the state mandates a particular procedure, this program too will be just another empty promise to too many students who are at the low end of priorities by even their own parents.

ERIC DAVID

Long Beach