[quote=AN][quote=CA renter]The problem, once again, is that a disproportionate majority of the university track students would be white/Asian (and wealthier, in general), and the vocational track would be black/Hispanic (and poorer, in general) if they tried to replicate this system in the US. How do you respond to accusations of racism?[/quote]Easy, when it start, just tell those doubter that it’s no different than it is today. Just look at the demographic of those who are being incarcerated and the demographic of those who are in higher education and the demographic of those blue collar workers. Then hopefully, 5-10 years from now, you can show that there will be less incarcerating due to the fact that people have the skills needed to work. If they work, they’d have less time to commit crime. If they work, they’ll pay more taxes and we spend less $ incarcerating people.
The elephant in the room is, the teacher’s union. Do you think they’ll go for such a drastic change? This would most likely reduce the amount of teachers needed. At least academic teachers. We would need more vocational “teachers”.
[quote=CA renter]But I would never advocate for it unless we had a third way that would enable these students and “late bloomers” to move to the university/college track. We would have to really strengthen the community college system (one of the greatest components of our educational system, IMO) so that kids and young adults could shift over if/when they want to do so.[/quote]What’s wrong with our current community college system? I think they’re great. If the demand increase, we can also expand them and hire more teachers. Today, anyone can sign up for classes to JC. So, anyone can change career quite easily.[/quote]
I can’t speak for the teachers’ unions, but I have always favored a multi-track school system where students are guided toward subjects in which they are strongest. Makes all the sense in the world to me.
While we might lose some HS teaching positions, but vocational schools and junior colleges would probably have to expand, so I think it would pretty much even out over time.
And I was praising the junior college system, not bashing it; it’s one of the greatest components of our educational system. Just saying that it would need to be fully supported and expanded, if necessary, in order to help students who are late bloomers (many kids reach certain “maturity points” at different ages) or who have a change of mind at a later point. The argument from those who are opposed to tracking is that you “force” students in a direction, as opposed to letting them have a choice. While I agree that this is true, I feel that as long as students are given an option (like JC), then it can work in a way that is beneficial to almost everyone.
