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Friday, March 14, 2008

Ohio school chief: More students need career, technical training

Judson Palmer
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

Findlay's Millstream Career & Technology Center took Ohio School Superintendent Susan Tave-Zelman on a whirlwind tour Thursday.

Zelman, who visits several schools throughout the state each year, made the trip to all three Millstream sites and to Owens Community College during her visit to Findlay.

Meeting with a group of community and education leaders at a roundtable discussion held Thursday afternoon at Owens, Zelman said it is a goal of the Ohio school board to move more students into career and technical training. That was welcome news to area leaders who continue to emphasize the need for a well-trained work force.

The trick, said Hancock County Commissioner Emily Walton, will be to get more students and parents to agree that vocational schools, like Millstream, are a viable career path.

Zelman said vocational schools are often seen as "dumping grounds" for students who can't make the grade in a traditional classroom.

"In reality, there are multiple intelligences," Zelman said.

She said it will take an "economic argument" to convince both the public and the Ohio Legislature that investing in schools like Millstream can save money and help the economy.

Millstream is already looking to put more of its students on a "tech prep" path, having students who attend the school earn credit toward both graduation and certification or a license.

For example, students can graduate from Millstream's cosmetology program with a license. That saves them both time and money.

Agreements with schools like Owens also help students get two- or four-year degrees much faster, by giving them high school and college credits for coursework.

Zelman said that same "economic argument" can and should be made for investing in education in general.

She said the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which is soon to be reauthorized, has radically changed the "historical mission" of public education, making schools responsible for the success of all students.

It's a very difficult charge, Zelman said, especially since schools are expected to fulfill this new mission with 19th century technology, while still operating on an agrarian calendar.

"We don't strategically invest in education," Zelman said.

Her comments drew nods of agreement from the educators seated around the table Thursday.

Zelman said America's public school system could learn a lot by studying schools in other countries, and she said the Ohio school board is now interested in measuring the state's performance against international standards.

John Graham, strategic sourcing manager for Marathon Oil, also questioned Zelman about the teaching of foreign languages, and asked how Ohio plans to ramp it up. Graham said he has a colleague who speaks seven languages.

Zelman said Ohio is going to begin introducing Chinese to students as early as pre-school age, and is the only state that is working with Public Broadcasting's Sesame Street to develop the Chinese programming.

"I would also argue that all students need to be liberally educated," Zelman said.

Knowledge of language, philosophy, cultures, etc., is going to be necessary as America's young people look to compete in a global marketplace, she said.

Zelman's visit, and the emphasis on vocational education, comes at a good time for Millstream, as district leaders continue to look for ways to bring Millstream under one roof.

In 2002, Findlay school officials attempted to negotiate a deal for the old Owens Community College campus, near the University of Findlay. The plan was to move Millstream to that campus, but the deal fell through.

Contact staff writer Denise Grant at:

(419) 427-8412

Send an e-mail to Denise Grant
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