Comments on: The Netherlands – A Proper Emphasis on Vocational Education http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/ Free Education for All Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:29:29 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rick http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/comment-page-1/#comment-5760 Rick Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:05:59 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/#comment-5760 I totally agree with this article. It has been on my mind since I have been teaching middle school math for the past 12 years. I see first hand, the frustration both on the teacher and student side when a collegiate curriculum is forced upon all students, thus making the NCLB unrealistic. All students deserve a free education, but not a standard cookie cutter model that has been and continues to be ineffective to the detriment of our children and future of our country. If you want to do something to change the system, please contact me at rlinet@gmail.com I totally agree with this article. It has been on my mind since I have been teaching middle school math for the past 12 years. I see first hand, the frustration both on the teacher and student side when a collegiate curriculum is forced upon all students, thus making the NCLB unrealistic.

All students deserve a free education, but not a standard cookie cutter model that has been and continues to be ineffective to the detriment of our children and future of our country.

If you want to do something to change the system, please contact me at rlinet@gmail.com

]]> By: On Being the Change I Wish to See http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1271 On Being the Change I Wish to See Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:04:35 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/#comment-1271 Excellent article! I agree that the U.S. education system is being driven in the wrong direction and that it is alienating and pushing out more students than it is helping. One thing we forget to notice is college is for higher learning, but it is also a business that seeks an income (tuition and fees). If a person's vocation doesn't require a college degree, there is no need for that person to spend the time in high school preparing for college and then going to college, spending a huge amount of money and not using the degree they earn. At our local public university, the freshman failure rate is 60%. 60% of the freshman class fails and drops out by the end of the year. The university provided little if any value to 60% of its freshman class, but collected about $10,000 in tuition, fees, books, room and board. I'm not sure how much of that is profit, but there is profit built into it. I think that's a shame. And it's wrong to force kids who have no interest in college to take a college prep curriculum in high school. You don't need pre-calculus when you want to be plumber, nurse, carpenter or office machines technician. You don't need it if you want to be a secretary, office assistant, or bookkeeper either. The GED exam is geared toward those who have no interest in pursing an academic track. The language, writing, math, reading and social studies sections cover basic knowledge, practical algebra I, basic geometry and general knowledge of the 8th to 10th grade level. Those students go on to vocational schools or start working under a master in various areas, like carpentry, building houses, plumbing, etc. Our education system is intentionally pushing out those students suited for an apprenticeship, journeyman, master training (trade) track. Rather than provide a trade track, schools seem to want those students to drop out and do it on their own. That is so wrong I can't begin to discuss it here. This needs to change yesterday! Sherri Excellent article! I agree that the U.S. education system is being driven in the wrong direction and that it is alienating and pushing out more students than it is helping.

One thing we forget to notice is college is for higher learning, but it is also a business that seeks an income (tuition and fees). If a person’s vocation doesn’t require a college degree, there is no need for that person to spend the time in high school preparing for college and then going to college, spending a huge amount of money and not using the degree they earn.

At our local public university, the freshman failure rate is 60%. 60% of the freshman class fails and drops out by the end of the year. The university provided little if any value to 60% of its freshman class, but collected about $10,000 in tuition, fees, books, room and board. I’m not sure how much of that is profit, but there is profit built into it.

I think that’s a shame. And it’s wrong to force kids who have no interest in college to take a college prep curriculum in high school. You don’t need pre-calculus when you want to be plumber, nurse, carpenter or office machines technician. You don’t need it if you want to be a secretary, office assistant, or bookkeeper either.

The GED exam is geared toward those who have no interest in pursing an academic track. The language, writing, math, reading and social studies sections cover basic knowledge, practical algebra I, basic geometry and general knowledge of the 8th to 10th grade level. Those students go on to vocational schools or start working under a master in various areas, like carpentry, building houses, plumbing, etc.

Our education system is intentionally pushing out those students suited for an apprenticeship, journeyman, master training (trade) track. Rather than provide a trade track, schools seem to want those students to drop out and do it on their own. That is so wrong I can’t begin to discuss it here.

This needs to change yesterday!

Sherri

]]> By: wooden boat plans http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1147 wooden boat plans Tue, 20 May 2008 21:30:29 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/#comment-1147 [...] America we continue to try and force feed students of all abilities and interests through a high schttp://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/New port for wooden boats in Cama Beach Everett HeraldVisitors to Cama Beach State Park will be able [...] [...] America we continue to try and force feed students of all abilities and interests through a high schttp://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/New port for wooden boats in Cama Beach Everett HeraldVisitors to Cama Beach State Park will be able [...]

]]> By: Jane Wagner-Tyack http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1144 Jane Wagner-Tyack Tue, 20 May 2008 17:08:13 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/#comment-1144 What a sensible system the Dutch have devised! You suggest that when looking for ways to improve education in the U.S., we should examine educational systems that mirror the socio-economic diversity in this country. From the perspective of a California educator, I wonder where we can look for successful systems that mirror our ethnic diversity as well. What a sensible system the Dutch have devised! You suggest that when looking for ways to improve education in the U.S., we should examine educational systems that mirror the socio-economic diversity in this country. From the perspective of a California educator, I wonder where we can look for successful systems that mirror our ethnic diversity as well.

]]> By: Dutch doors to adulthood at Joanne Jacobs http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1131 Dutch doors to adulthood at Joanne Jacobs Sun, 18 May 2008 16:32:11 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/#comment-1131 [...] its series on the Dutch education system, Open Education looks at a vocational school for future carpenters and woodworkers. Whereas in America we continue to try and force feed [...] [...] its series on the Dutch education system, Open Education looks at a vocational school for future carpenters and woodworkers. Whereas in America we continue to try and force feed [...]

]]> By: DCraig http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1115 DCraig Thu, 15 May 2008 21:22:27 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/#comment-1115 Nice work on a complex topic! The recognition that a nation is made up of a group of individuals would serve the US well in future educational reform efforts. The secondary school and college drop out rates attest to how ineffective the one- size- fits- all education model is. Nice work on a complex topic! The recognition that a nation is made up of a group of individuals would serve the US well in future educational reform efforts. The secondary school and college drop out rates attest to how ineffective the one- size- fits- all education model is.

]]> By: Windows » The Netherlands - A Proper Emphasis on Vocational Education http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1112 Windows » The Netherlands - A Proper Emphasis on Vocational Education Thu, 15 May 2008 02:54:39 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/2008/05/14/the-netherlands-a-proper-emphasis-on-vocational-education/#comment-1112 [...] Fabrice’s weblog wrote an interesting post today on The Netherlands - A Proper Emphasis on Vocational EducationHere’s a quick excerpt…two basic criteria, the boat must be completed by the time the school year ends and it must fit through the window at the end of the building… [...] [...] Fabrice’s weblog wrote an interesting post today on The Netherlands – A Proper Emphasis on Vocational EducationHere’s a quick excerpt…two basic criteria, the boat must be completed by the time the school year ends and it must fit through the window at the end of the building… [...]

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