Youth Opinion : ‘School Doesn’t Teach People How to Think, Get Ahead in Society’

Employers complain that many in the work force lack the necessary skills to do their jobs. DANICA KIRKA asked recent Southern California graduates whether they felt their education adequately prepared them for the work world.

STEPHEN MINOR

20, Daniel Murphy High School graduate, now at Los Angeles Urban League Youth Training Center and a UCLA student

I had a Catholic school education. I hated (Catholic school) at the time, but I’m grateful for it. When I got to college, the curriculum looked easy. I was used to taking quizzes, to writing reports every semester.

Some of my best subjects were history and economics. The latter was one of the best classes. It teaches you the theory of how this nation is running, how people make money. Maybe it was just that I had a good teacher.

School doesn’t teach people how to think. They don’t teach you what it takes to get ahead in society. The most powerful thing is networking. They don’t teach you that 50 families control everything. That’s the sort of thing you learn one year out.

I’m taking off a semester to learn clerical work so I can make more money (for college) in the summer.

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LEE HALLETT

22, Ontario, Chaffee High School graduate, now in Marine Corps School just didn’t do it for me. There was no emphasis on anything. Schools need classes on economics, how to make your dollar go further, what kind of jobs there are for high-school graduates that make good money. The counselors should go out there and spend more time with the students and ask them what they can do to help. Every time I went in (to the counseling office), it was full of other students with other problems. You had the trouble group. That’s where the majority of emphasis is, with the problem students.

I put myself through the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Academy. I gave myself a year to get hired and it didn’t happen. I’ve enlisted in the Marines Corps to learn more self discipline, how to take care of myself. I’ve been living with my mom. I want to learn to survive in the real world without having to depend on anyone.

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WALTER VILLALTA

20, Los Angeles, Manual Arts High School graduate, now an auto salesman

High school helps you learn to express yourself in the outside world. Being Hispanic, I learned English as Spanish is my first language. I also learned a lot of stuff that I use in my job. Take respect for your teachers. In this job, you’ve got to respect your customers. You’ve got to be nice, be calm, and you’ve got to be on time. So it’s helped me to be more responsible.

I’m working for Felix Chevrolet. I was going to college, but I wasn’t helping my parents out. These days, even if you have a college degree, it’s not necessarily going to get you a job. Now people want experience. I’m really thankful to have this job. (My boss) is giving me a chance.