Trade and Technical News

P-20 Council Formed. Okay, Now What?

barbara — Mon, 21 May 2007 16:37:00 -0500

While I laud the governor's formation of the P-20 council today, so that something taught in an eighth-grade Algebra class will hopefully connect with what's required in a college admissions test, I remain skeptical. There have been so many of these commissions. I just hope this one, since Gregoire is leading it, actually does something.

Two-Week Chat on Global Competitiveness

barbara — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:14:00 -0500

Here is a link to an e-mail exchange on that was posted on the Laurel Group Web site.

In it, Susannah Malarkey (Executive Director of the Technology Alliance, Ken Myer (President and CEO of the WSA, and John Drescher (Executive Director of TechNet Northwest) engaged in a nearly two week long email discussion about what they see as the crucial issues that might impact the business and technology communities in the Puget Sound.

It's a good read.

One Diploma for Dummies; One for Geniuses.Not Going to Happen Here.

barbara — Sat, 12 May 2007 05:56:00 -0500

efore I sign off for Mother's Day weekend, one footnote from the State Board meeting yesterday. I missed the discussion on the group studying the state's high school graduation requirements. At 19 credits and requiring only 2 credits of math, ours are some of the lowest standards in the nation.

Hopefully, this group will fix that.

Eric Liu, the chair of this committee, said that his group is looking at making the diplomas meaningful not only for college-bound kids, but for those that want to go into the trades as well. But one idea that they've dismissed for now is a tiered diploma system. In other words, one diploma for college-bound kids, one for those interested in technical and trade options, and those who don't know what they are going to do after they flip their tassels from one side to another and exit the stage.

Math to Middle School Careers

barbara — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:39:00 -0500

Kudos for Clover Park Technical College opening its doors today to host the Math to Careers Middle School Conference, where 600 middle school students descended on the campus to find out why math is important in careers such as construction, law enforcement, aviation or electrical engineering.

I know,broken record. But middle school is the time to start brainwashing kids on the importance of math and science, no matter what they choose to do after high school.

Another Career Academy, This Time in LA

barbara — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:25:00 -0500

First a story about Florida creating career academies in high schools, and now another story from the LA Times about a sports medicine program that begins at 6:30 a.m. At 6:32 am, the reporter found 32 bright eyed kids in class, ready to learn.

I think this is a trend worth looking at (I know there are few in the Puget Sound area), since these aren't career and tech schools off by their lonesome somewhere, but schools within a school, if you will. From the enthusiasm expressed by the students in this article, I think it's a perfect way to catch kids that might otherwise fall through the system.

Reading on down in the article, it seems that schools like this have not affected the drop out rate (which I find a bit hard to believe), but that the students who complete the programs do earn more $$ after high school.

Students Who Think They Are Going to College, vs Those That Really Do

barbara — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:50:00 -0500

This post I'm taking you to is long. So bear with me.

This is out of Educated Nation, which is a higher ed blog, and like most writings of this ilk, it's a bit long winded. However, I think there are some interesting points the author brings up on the number of kids that think they are going to college, vs. those that actually walk through the doors, and those that graduate four years later.

Want to Build that Machine Part? Do the Math.

barbara — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:22:00 -0500

That's the message that Tom Clemans gives his students at the Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center in Everett.

Clemans stumbled into machining by accident, and then stayed to teach the joys of such, and the hard math that goes along with it to the students, mostly boys, that come into his shop in Everett, according to this story in Teacher Magazine.

I think this story, tho short, needs to be read, and re-read. Not all kids are going to go to college true. But all need to master math, tough math, if they are going to make it in today's world. And the school system needs to nurture programs like this (and the great skills center in Tumwater) to excite kids who might not be interested in the college-track.

2007 College Grads Seem to Have Their Choice of Jobs

barbara — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:37:00 -0500

And once you've secured your two- or four-year degree, it's time to start paying off those student loans. And that means finding a good job. Again, according to this CNN/Money Magazine piece, the 2007 grads seem will have a relatively easy time finding that first job. Especially if they were fortunate enough to major in high-demand degrees, such as chemical engineering, mechanical engineering or IT-anything. Now if you're a French History major, hmm, the story didn't talk about your prospects.

If You Don't Like the Financial Aid Package, Negotiate.

barbara — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:30:00 -0500

That's at least the advice from the experts in the college financial aid world.

Often parents and students don't realize that they don't have to roll over and accept the first offer of financial aid given to them by their top picks, according to this CNN/Money Magazine article.

With private tuition topping over $30,000, you really can't afford to not to.

Maryland Pushes Ahead With Exit Exam in 2009

barbara — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:09:00 -0600

And from reading this story in the Washington Post, the educational and state leaders there seem determined to make it stick for the class of 2009.

Instead of three tests, this state is looking at four-Algebra, Biology, English and government to get their degree. And some of these counties in the state are seeing only about 45 percent pass these tests. Yet they are still pushing forward. I hope they stick to it.

There are some interesting programs they have that I think we should look at. such as this one, described by Carol Blum, Montgomery County's director of high school instruction:

Blum was particularly proud of the county's Web site, which allows students to study for the HSAs on their own. The site features a database of test questions, answers and explanations. Students can print out a summary report after they've responded to 10 questions that show whether they are mastering the content. The report can be forwarded to a teacher, who can target the areas that need extra instruction.

The state also has a ninth grade summer camp for students to study for these tests and a serious look at the middle schools that feed into the high schools. I say again, high school is too late, you really need to look a grade or two down to catch the problems we are seeing on the WASL now.

Speaking of which, we've recently received flak over the Partnership's radio ads over saying that the WASL tests for basic skills, even 8th grade skills. Well, I'm sorry, but that's true.

Maryland officials admit this (testing for 8th and 9th grade skills) in the article

And so does the WASL, esp. in math. I think it tests up through Alg 1, and please correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't like it either. I think the test should be harder, esp. when my daughter comes home, like she did last night and say that the WASL is boring and easy. (She'll be taking the 7th grade WASL in a few weeks, so we'll see what she says then). And none of us should kid ourselves and think that the WASL is an indicator of being college/work ready. It's a start, but we need a tougher 11th grade test to really hit the college/work ready level.

As for the lawmakers debating the WASL in Olympia, please get a spine and keep the reading and writing WASLs in place.