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Kids still learn trades in schools

Think vocational classes are a thing of the past in high schools? Think again. The trades are better represented now than ever, according to teachers and administrators working with the Career and Technical Education program within Guilford County Schools.

Masonry, accounting, drafting, nursing, and many other skilled trades are represented at every one of the county’s traditional high schools and middle school students get introductions to many of the courses as well.

I’ll have a story about the health of the CTE program in tomorrow’s paper but I’d love to hear stories from some of you about your own experiences in trade classes.

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Posted by J. Brian Ewing on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 11:10 am

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Jeff Deal

September 24, 2009 - 11:16 pm EDT

"Masonry, accounting, drafting, nursing, and many other skilled trades are represented at every one of the county’s traditional high schools"

Not exactly.

Masonry is offered at Grimsley...if it's offered at any other GCS schools (other than maybe one of the High Point schools), I'm unaware of it. If I'm right, that's unfortunate. As your article today points out, that field offers considerable opportunities for students (particularly those who are otherwise disconnected) to express themselves through applied artistic methods, as well as learning a marketable skill. Other CTE courses are not uniformly offered at all GCS traditional high schools...largely dependent on the value that the site-based administrators place on such offerings. Some of the high schools viewed as being academically "strong" appear to be weak when it comes to diverse CTE offerings. Smith has a "magnet" academy for construction trades...sadly, unless something's changed recently, their offerings are only available to those within the Smith attendance zone.