More on Enrollment decline

[Leonard23]

I know for a fact that there was an auto mechanics and autobody vocational school adjacent to Wall High School that was replaced by the magnet "vocational" school Communications High School. AFAIK, I don't think Wall has wood and metal shop any more. I will check. One of the most valuable classes I took as a student was a year long course in small engine repair. We took a lawnmower engine apart completely, and then we rebuilt it. I went to undergrad for engineering. But I still use knowledge from that class as much or more than the honors classes I took.

Maybe it is different in other parts of the state or in more rural areas. Can't see kids of rich parents steering to jobs where they will get their hands dirty or have to work with tools.

According to Wall's Program of Studies, students can attend 1 of 8 vocational schools in Monmouth County:

Monmouth County Vocational School District | Home

Preparing students for evolving careers and lifelong learning via specialized academics and career technical education (CTE) programs.

www.mcvsd.org

Monmouth County Vocational District Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) is a public school district that provides career and technical training for high school students and other residents of Monmouth County. In today’s highly technical society most occupations require sophisticated training. Many of the MCVSD’s graduates are hired directly into their chosen occupation while others continue their education in colleges and trade schools prior to seeking employment.

Programs
The programs offered at MCVSD take two years to complete in order to receive the accompanying certifications and/or college credits. Wall High School students have the option of enrolling into MCVSD’s shared time programs starting in their junior or senior year. Students who begin their vocational program at the start of junior year can complete it by their high school graduation. Seniors who begin their vocational program can complete the second year of training following their high school graduation tuition free. Students who elect to attend vocational school attend Wall High School for half of the school day and vocational school for half a day. First year vocational students attend vocational school in the morning session, while students in their second year of training attend the afternoon session. Tech Prep Programs Tech Prep programs provide a strong integration of academics with vocational skills training. In addition, an articulation agreement has been established between MCVSD and a post secondary institution. That institution is usually a 2 or 4 year college. Upon completion of high school, students smoothly transition into the college program and complete their studies.

Admissions
Applications are available in the Guidance office at Wall High School or in the Monmouth County Vocational School Buildings. Students must complete an application, have the signature of a parent or guardian and return it to their high school guidance counselor. Students must meet the following criteria: ● Student must be entering their junior or senior year. ● Student must have a genuine interest in the vocational course they are applying for and must have an excellent attendance record (less than 15 days absent per year) ● Student must have a “C” grade point average ● Student &Parent must tour the program prior to submitting an application. This can be accomplished through attendance at an open house, orientation, teacher interview, tour with a MCVSD counselor, or other means arranged with the MCVSD principal. Contact information can be found under the MCVSD course offerings or online at www.mcvsd.org. Additional qualifications for

Tech Prep programs:
● Student must have successfully passed Algebra 1 with a “C” or better. ● Student must have successfully passed one year of science with a “C” or better.


Monmouth County Vocational School District - Course Offerings Shared Time at www.mcvsd.org/shared

Aberdeen Campus - 732-566-5599
Commercial Art
Diesel Mechanics
Marine Engine & Boat Repair

Asbury Park Campus Culinary Education Center- 732-988-3299
Culinary Arts - Tech Prep

Freehold Campus - 732-462-7570
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) & Plumbing

Hazlet Campus - 732-264-4995
Auto Mechanics
Carpentry
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Dental Assisting

Keyport Campus - 732-739-0592
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Dietary Aide/Patient
Care/Home Health Aide

Long Branch Campus - 732-229-2446
Academy of Law & Public Safety - Tech Prep

Middletown Campus - 732-671-0650
Electricity Auto Mechanics Allied Health - Tech Prep

Neptune Campus - 732-431-7245
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Patient Care/Medical Assisting

Wall Campus - 732-681-1010
Design Academy

 

[Knight Shift]

According to Wall's Program of Studies, students can attend 1 of 8 vocational schools in Monmouth County:

Monmouth County Vocational School District | Home

Preparing students for evolving careers and lifelong learning via specialized academics and career technical education (CTE) programs.

www.mcvsd.org

Monmouth County Vocational District Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) is a public school district that provides career and technical training for high school students and other residents of Monmouth County. In today’s highly technical society most occupations require sophisticated training. Many of the MCVSD’s graduates are hired directly into their chosen occupation while others continue their education in colleges and trade schools prior to seeking employment.

Programs
The programs offered at MCVSD take two years to complete in order to receive the accompanying certifications and/or college credits. Wall High School students have the option of enrolling into MCVSD’s shared time programs starting in their junior or senior year. Students who begin their vocational program at the start of junior year can complete it by their high school graduation. Seniors who begin their vocational program can complete the second year of training following their high school graduation tuition free. Students who elect to attend vocational school attend Wall High School for half of the school day and vocational school for half a day. First year vocational students attend vocational school in the morning session, while students in their second year of training attend the afternoon session. Tech Prep Programs Tech Prep programs provide a strong integration of academics with vocational skills training. In addition, an articulation agreement has been established between MCVSD and a post secondary institution. That institution is usually a 2 or 4 year college. Upon completion of high school, students smoothly transition into the college program and complete their studies.

Admissions
Applications are available in the Guidance office at Wall High School or in the Monmouth County Vocational School Buildings. Students must complete an application, have the signature of a parent or guardian and return it to their high school guidance counselor. Students must meet the following criteria: ● Student must be entering their junior or senior year. ● Student must have a genuine interest in the vocational course they are applying for and must have an excellent attendance record (less than 15 days absent per year) ● Student must have a “C” grade point average ● Student &Parent must tour the program prior to submitting an application. This can be accomplished through attendance at an open house, orientation, teacher interview, tour with a MCVSD counselor, or other means arranged with the MCVSD principal. Contact information can be found under the MCVSD course offerings or online at www.mcvsd.org. Additional qualifications for

Tech Prep programs:
● Student must have successfully passed Algebra 1 with a “C” or better. ● Student must have successfully passed one year of science with a “C” or better.


Monmouth County Vocational School District - Course Offerings Shared Time at www.mcvsd.org/shared

Aberdeen Campus - 732-566-5599
Commercial Art
Diesel Mechanics
Marine Engine & Boat Repair

Asbury Park Campus Culinary Education Center- 732-988-3299
Culinary Arts - Tech Prep

Freehold Campus - 732-462-7570
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) & Plumbing

Hazlet Campus - 732-264-4995
Auto Mechanics
Carpentry
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Dental Assisting

Keyport Campus - 732-739-0592
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Dietary Aide/Patient
Care/Home Health Aide

Long Branch Campus - 732-229-2446
Academy of Law & Public Safety - Tech Prep

Middletown Campus - 732-671-0650
Electricity Auto Mechanics Allied Health - Tech Prep

Neptune Campus - 732-431-7245
Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Patient Care/Medical Assisting

Wall Campus - 732-681-1010
Design Academy

Excellent. I had made a bad assumption that because the program was no longer in Wall, it was discontinued. I recall hearing that from others too. I had friends who did the auto mechanics programs at the Vocational School. As far as your original question about there being fewer vocational schools as referenced in the article/blog post I linked above, I believe that writer is a teacher, and hopefully he had something to back up what he wrote.

 

[Knight Shift]

I'd like to see more data supporting the lack of vocational training, as every NJ county (or most) has a vocational HS, but many parents don't enroll their kids because they may be ashamed or want to push kids to college that don't want to go. Every NJ regular HS (or most) also has electives like woodshop and other programs. There are also plenty of vocational schools and training opportunities after HS, but kids have to apply and enroll. Many don't.

I Google searched the line about vocational education being gutted in the 1970s, and I found this, which I have no idea is accurate. Some might wonder where we are going with this--where I am going is that not everyone is cut out for or should go to college. There are plenty of great career opportunities for people who work with their hands, and if they have good people skills, they can be much more happy and make more money than toiling away in an expensive college to earn a degree that may not lead to a satisfying or well-paying job.

The troubled history of vocational education

Vocational education was once used to track low-income students off to work while wealthier kids went to college. But advocates for today's career and technical education say things have changed, and graduates of vocational programs may have the advantage over graduates of traditional high schools.

www.apmreports.org

 

[e5fdny]

My Wife, a high school physics teacher with her masters, made stuff in shop class as a kid we still use in our house.

 

[Knight Shift]

My Wife, a high school physics teacher with her masters, made stuff in shop class as a kid we still use in our house.

I have a TV stand I made in either middle school or high school wood shop in our family room. It's a fine piece of furniture, if I don't say so myself. My kids did not take any "shop" type of classes, and they learned minimal tool skills from me. They both volunteered on the fire department and acquired some tool skills there too. Tool skills serve people well in life.