School Version 2.0 - Career/Technical

Many of you read the great test results coming out of Columbus County Schools Career and Technical Education Program. Out of all the programs in the state, our CTE program ranks 5th with regards to test scores. It is truly a remarkable achievement for our teachers and especially our students.

Thirty years ago, vocational education as it was known then, meant basically some basic farming and “shop” classes and some “home ec”. Students were not tested in a standardized manner, and many vocational classes were suited for students who were looking to graduate from school and go to work with a limited set of skills. Today, our Career and Technical Education program offers a highly specialized training and rigorous curriculum. Our students can graduate with certification in Auto Mechanics, Computer Networking, Health Occupations, Early Childhood Development, and Food Safety. These nationally-recognized programs provide many students with the ability to enter specialized fields when they graduate, or prepares them to enter specialized technical schools; many of these students also go on to four year programs. Our CTE programs offer many other skills; our schools build houses from the ground up learning every aspect of construction, our horticulture programs combine modern science with the traditional agricultural practices of our local communities, and computer applications students learn extensive computer skills that will become necessary in any career in the future. The days of the traditional shop class are over; CTE students are now learning math, science and english within the context of courses that demonstrate how these concepts apply to the real world.

Why are these programs so successful? What does it tell us about students and learning?

I honestly believe that these programs have been successful because they are rigorous and relevant. Anyone who has been on a CTE classroom or read the questions on one of these exams can attest to the rigor that the CTE curriculum demands. These classes all involve students in active engagement using real, tangible examples that encourage intellectual connections. Exceptional children who enter our CTE programs have a mastery rate of almost 60%. If education is about interaction and connection, then no child is left behind. We are working toward the goal of making all students successful by providing them with more relevance, more hands-on activities and as a result, more engagement- in all classes.

The 21st century is an exciting time in education; we need not fear it. We must embrace the future by continuing to teach our students to think, interact and make connections. Our Career and Technical Education Programs are a great example of how we as educators can adapt from the traditional model of education to the new. It is an inspiration which will help propel all of us forward.