Surreal State of the State Speech

[UCGal]

My sister switched to teaching in her 30’s (after getting an MBA and working in business for most of her 20’s). Despite having a masters (MBA) she had to take 2 years of education courses and do a year of unpaid student teaching before she was credentialed for CA.

A good friend has a similar story. Worked sales and had a business degree, then went and got a teaching credential… it was a few years of education classes then a year of unpaid student teaching.

Both my sister and friend made the choice to give up better paying jobs specifically to become teachers. Some people love teaching, put in 80 hour weeks as teachers. They’re both type A type people. They put their all into teaching.

I can’t speak for other districts – but San Diego Unified is reducing the number of teachers. They’ve increased class sizes due to budget cuts and will likely be increasing sizes even more for the 2011/12 school year. What does that mean? They aren’t hiring new teachers.

[Coronita]

we don’t need better teachers. We just need better students…

[Coronita]

we don’t need better teachers. We just need better students…

[Coronita]

we don’t need better teachers. We just need better students…

[Coronita]

we don’t need better teachers. We just need better students…

[Coronita]

we don’t need better teachers. We just need better students…

[Coronita]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=Djshakes]. . . Well, there is a reason WI schools are better than CA. All the money they dump into schools out here and the kids don’t even have elective choices.[/quote]

Djshakes, their USED to be many “electives” available here. Now a CA public HS student gets about 3 electives their entire 4-yr HS “career.” I think since 2000, their has been a sea change in public HS curriculums. The “push” is now towards “A-G” requirements for CA public university admission purposes. I think many kids are pushed in this direction when they have no aptitude for it and would be better off learning the latest wheel alignment and suspension technologies at a low-cost “ROP” program and gaining HS credits at the same time, as was done in years past. As another Pigg stated here, public schools are now simply “teaching to (standardized) tests” and nothing more. HS’s may still have a storage room of good used band instruments, but the staff to teach instrumental music was cut long ago.

Its a function of education budget cuts all around and the political “push” to get every student admitted to college (even if just cc for the first couple of years). I think this mindset is just prolonging the “growing up” process for students. And it doesn’t help that massive budget cuts are causing many students to have to stay in college 10-12 semesters to get all their credits in for graduation, incurring even MORE debt on their student loans. Upon college graduation, not only are they entering an unkind economy and dead job market in many areas, their student loan payments are becoming due within six months of graduation. Upon deferral, the balance keeps growing. It never goes away, even in BK.

What’s wrong with taking ROP in HS to learn a shorter course in cosmetology, specifically nails? Even though I’m not a customer, this business seems to be booming all around me. The newly minted “nail technician” can get an $800 – $1500 mo part-time gig at the age of 18 and still live at home while contemplating the direction they will take. Maybe even pay cash for a newer car if they don’t have one. This is what we did in the “olden” days. We didn’t have student debt or car payments “straight out of the gate” in life.

What do Piggs think of again allowing ROP to replace some of the academic graduation requirements in CA high schools with 6 mo – 2 yr “Certificate Programs” (at no cost to the student)??[/quote]

like I said previously BG, parents that think our current education system has failed and won’t give folks the bang for the buck, I’m fully supportive of people opting out …. But parents that go down this path, better not cry foul if they kid(s) have a tough time thereafter.

I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….

And by the way, it really isn’t rocket science to do be like a mechanic, because things are getting much more complicated, most things do not end up being diagnosed. Rather, they are just taken out and swapped completely, so there is very limited “expert craftsmanship” that is needed to repair things… Case in point…When was the last time you took your tv,computer,etc in for repairs, versus just being told, buy another one? Cars are quickly becoming the same way…Especially as cars become more electronics based… It’s not rocket science and doesn’t really require *that* much special training. Most of the time, the only difference separating you versus your german mechanic is that he has the factory repair guide that they manufacturer typically does not release to normal people. But all he/she is doing is just following a flowchart.

[Coronita]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=Djshakes]. . . Well, there is a reason WI schools are better than CA. All the money they dump into schools out here and the kids don’t even have elective choices.[/quote]

Djshakes, their USED to be many “electives” available here. Now a CA public HS student gets about 3 electives their entire 4-yr HS “career.” I think since 2000, their has been a sea change in public HS curriculums. The “push” is now towards “A-G” requirements for CA public university admission purposes. I think many kids are pushed in this direction when they have no aptitude for it and would be better off learning the latest wheel alignment and suspension technologies at a low-cost “ROP” program and gaining HS credits at the same time, as was done in years past. As another Pigg stated here, public schools are now simply “teaching to (standardized) tests” and nothing more. HS’s may still have a storage room of good used band instruments, but the staff to teach instrumental music was cut long ago.

Its a function of education budget cuts all around and the political “push” to get every student admitted to college (even if just cc for the first couple of years). I think this mindset is just prolonging the “growing up” process for students. And it doesn’t help that massive budget cuts are causing many students to have to stay in college 10-12 semesters to get all their credits in for graduation, incurring even MORE debt on their student loans. Upon college graduation, not only are they entering an unkind economy and dead job market in many areas, their student loan payments are becoming due within six months of graduation. Upon deferral, the balance keeps growing. It never goes away, even in BK.

What’s wrong with taking ROP in HS to learn a shorter course in cosmetology, specifically nails? Even though I’m not a customer, this business seems to be booming all around me. The newly minted “nail technician” can get an $800 – $1500 mo part-time gig at the age of 18 and still live at home while contemplating the direction they will take. Maybe even pay cash for a newer car if they don’t have one. This is what we did in the “olden” days. We didn’t have student debt or car payments “straight out of the gate” in life.

What do Piggs think of again allowing ROP to replace some of the academic graduation requirements in CA high schools with 6 mo – 2 yr “Certificate Programs” (at no cost to the student)??[/quote]

like I said previously BG, parents that think our current education system has failed and won’t give folks the bang for the buck, I’m fully supportive of people opting out …. But parents that go down this path, better not cry foul if they kid(s) have a tough time thereafter.

I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….

And by the way, it really isn’t rocket science to do be like a mechanic, because things are getting much more complicated, most things do not end up being diagnosed. Rather, they are just taken out and swapped completely, so there is very limited “expert craftsmanship” that is needed to repair things… Case in point…When was the last time you took your tv,computer,etc in for repairs, versus just being told, buy another one? Cars are quickly becoming the same way…Especially as cars become more electronics based… It’s not rocket science and doesn’t really require *that* much special training. Most of the time, the only difference separating you versus your german mechanic is that he has the factory repair guide that they manufacturer typically does not release to normal people. But all he/she is doing is just following a flowchart.

[Coronita]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=Djshakes]. . . Well, there is a reason WI schools are better than CA. All the money they dump into schools out here and the kids don’t even have elective choices.[/quote]

Djshakes, their USED to be many “electives” available here. Now a CA public HS student gets about 3 electives their entire 4-yr HS “career.” I think since 2000, their has been a sea change in public HS curriculums. The “push” is now towards “A-G” requirements for CA public university admission purposes. I think many kids are pushed in this direction when they have no aptitude for it and would be better off learning the latest wheel alignment and suspension technologies at a low-cost “ROP” program and gaining HS credits at the same time, as was done in years past. As another Pigg stated here, public schools are now simply “teaching to (standardized) tests” and nothing more. HS’s may still have a storage room of good used band instruments, but the staff to teach instrumental music was cut long ago.

Its a function of education budget cuts all around and the political “push” to get every student admitted to college (even if just cc for the first couple of years). I think this mindset is just prolonging the “growing up” process for students. And it doesn’t help that massive budget cuts are causing many students to have to stay in college 10-12 semesters to get all their credits in for graduation, incurring even MORE debt on their student loans. Upon college graduation, not only are they entering an unkind economy and dead job market in many areas, their student loan payments are becoming due within six months of graduation. Upon deferral, the balance keeps growing. It never goes away, even in BK.

What’s wrong with taking ROP in HS to learn a shorter course in cosmetology, specifically nails? Even though I’m not a customer, this business seems to be booming all around me. The newly minted “nail technician” can get an $800 – $1500 mo part-time gig at the age of 18 and still live at home while contemplating the direction they will take. Maybe even pay cash for a newer car if they don’t have one. This is what we did in the “olden” days. We didn’t have student debt or car payments “straight out of the gate” in life.

What do Piggs think of again allowing ROP to replace some of the academic graduation requirements in CA high schools with 6 mo – 2 yr “Certificate Programs” (at no cost to the student)??[/quote]

like I said previously BG, parents that think our current education system has failed and won’t give folks the bang for the buck, I’m fully supportive of people opting out …. But parents that go down this path, better not cry foul if they kid(s) have a tough time thereafter.

I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….

And by the way, it really isn’t rocket science to do be like a mechanic, because things are getting much more complicated, most things do not end up being diagnosed. Rather, they are just taken out and swapped completely, so there is very limited “expert craftsmanship” that is needed to repair things… Case in point…When was the last time you took your tv,computer,etc in for repairs, versus just being told, buy another one? Cars are quickly becoming the same way…Especially as cars become more electronics based… It’s not rocket science and doesn’t really require *that* much special training. Most of the time, the only difference separating you versus your german mechanic is that he has the factory repair guide that they manufacturer typically does not release to normal people. But all he/she is doing is just following a flowchart.

[Coronita]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=Djshakes]. . . Well, there is a reason WI schools are better than CA. All the money they dump into schools out here and the kids don’t even have elective choices.[/quote]

Djshakes, their USED to be many “electives” available here. Now a CA public HS student gets about 3 electives their entire 4-yr HS “career.” I think since 2000, their has been a sea change in public HS curriculums. The “push” is now towards “A-G” requirements for CA public university admission purposes. I think many kids are pushed in this direction when they have no aptitude for it and would be better off learning the latest wheel alignment and suspension technologies at a low-cost “ROP” program and gaining HS credits at the same time, as was done in years past. As another Pigg stated here, public schools are now simply “teaching to (standardized) tests” and nothing more. HS’s may still have a storage room of good used band instruments, but the staff to teach instrumental music was cut long ago.

Its a function of education budget cuts all around and the political “push” to get every student admitted to college (even if just cc for the first couple of years). I think this mindset is just prolonging the “growing up” process for students. And it doesn’t help that massive budget cuts are causing many students to have to stay in college 10-12 semesters to get all their credits in for graduation, incurring even MORE debt on their student loans. Upon college graduation, not only are they entering an unkind economy and dead job market in many areas, their student loan payments are becoming due within six months of graduation. Upon deferral, the balance keeps growing. It never goes away, even in BK.

What’s wrong with taking ROP in HS to learn a shorter course in cosmetology, specifically nails? Even though I’m not a customer, this business seems to be booming all around me. The newly minted “nail technician” can get an $800 – $1500 mo part-time gig at the age of 18 and still live at home while contemplating the direction they will take. Maybe even pay cash for a newer car if they don’t have one. This is what we did in the “olden” days. We didn’t have student debt or car payments “straight out of the gate” in life.

What do Piggs think of again allowing ROP to replace some of the academic graduation requirements in CA high schools with 6 mo – 2 yr “Certificate Programs” (at no cost to the student)??[/quote]

like I said previously BG, parents that think our current education system has failed and won’t give folks the bang for the buck, I’m fully supportive of people opting out …. But parents that go down this path, better not cry foul if they kid(s) have a tough time thereafter.

I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….

And by the way, it really isn’t rocket science to do be like a mechanic, because things are getting much more complicated, most things do not end up being diagnosed. Rather, they are just taken out and swapped completely, so there is very limited “expert craftsmanship” that is needed to repair things… Case in point…When was the last time you took your tv,computer,etc in for repairs, versus just being told, buy another one? Cars are quickly becoming the same way…Especially as cars become more electronics based… It’s not rocket science and doesn’t really require *that* much special training. Most of the time, the only difference separating you versus your german mechanic is that he has the factory repair guide that they manufacturer typically does not release to normal people. But all he/she is doing is just following a flowchart.

[Coronita]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=Djshakes]. . . Well, there is a reason WI schools are better than CA. All the money they dump into schools out here and the kids don’t even have elective choices.[/quote]

Djshakes, their USED to be many “electives” available here. Now a CA public HS student gets about 3 electives their entire 4-yr HS “career.” I think since 2000, their has been a sea change in public HS curriculums. The “push” is now towards “A-G” requirements for CA public university admission purposes. I think many kids are pushed in this direction when they have no aptitude for it and would be better off learning the latest wheel alignment and suspension technologies at a low-cost “ROP” program and gaining HS credits at the same time, as was done in years past. As another Pigg stated here, public schools are now simply “teaching to (standardized) tests” and nothing more. HS’s may still have a storage room of good used band instruments, but the staff to teach instrumental music was cut long ago.

Its a function of education budget cuts all around and the political “push” to get every student admitted to college (even if just cc for the first couple of years). I think this mindset is just prolonging the “growing up” process for students. And it doesn’t help that massive budget cuts are causing many students to have to stay in college 10-12 semesters to get all their credits in for graduation, incurring even MORE debt on their student loans. Upon college graduation, not only are they entering an unkind economy and dead job market in many areas, their student loan payments are becoming due within six months of graduation. Upon deferral, the balance keeps growing. It never goes away, even in BK.

What’s wrong with taking ROP in HS to learn a shorter course in cosmetology, specifically nails? Even though I’m not a customer, this business seems to be booming all around me. The newly minted “nail technician” can get an $800 – $1500 mo part-time gig at the age of 18 and still live at home while contemplating the direction they will take. Maybe even pay cash for a newer car if they don’t have one. This is what we did in the “olden” days. We didn’t have student debt or car payments “straight out of the gate” in life.

What do Piggs think of again allowing ROP to replace some of the academic graduation requirements in CA high schools with 6 mo – 2 yr “Certificate Programs” (at no cost to the student)??[/quote]

like I said previously BG, parents that think our current education system has failed and won’t give folks the bang for the buck, I’m fully supportive of people opting out …. But parents that go down this path, better not cry foul if they kid(s) have a tough time thereafter.

I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….

And by the way, it really isn’t rocket science to do be like a mechanic, because things are getting much more complicated, most things do not end up being diagnosed. Rather, they are just taken out and swapped completely, so there is very limited “expert craftsmanship” that is needed to repair things… Case in point…When was the last time you took your tv,computer,etc in for repairs, versus just being told, buy another one? Cars are quickly becoming the same way…Especially as cars become more electronics based… It’s not rocket science and doesn’t really require *that* much special training. Most of the time, the only difference separating you versus your german mechanic is that he has the factory repair guide that they manufacturer typically does not release to normal people. But all he/she is doing is just following a flowchart.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flu] …I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….[/quote]

flu, I think it’s okay if there are a lot of options. A HS student only has to pick ONE and successfully complete an ROP program. They can even take classes at CC thru ROP with Pigg Djshakes as their instructor. These instructors don’t have to be “credentialed.” They just have to be able to “talk it and walk it.” Just because Susie graduated from Djshake’s “Account Clerk Certificate Program” in one school year going half-time (9 mos) doesn’t mean she has to do it for the rest of her life. She just has to get an A/R or A/P job at the local car dealership after HS graduation, stay there awhile, get benefits and buy one of the best trade-ins that comes thru for herself. By age 20, she’ll have a nice car and be financially independent. Maybe she can even save up for her own wedding, lol! She might later decide to go back to college in the eves to further her accounting education while making $$ working during the day. No stress, maybe 1-2 classes at a time and still having a “life.” Even take online college classes.

This is a faster process into adulthood, flu and a debt-free process. By age 24 to 28, she’ll probably be making as much $$ as her peers who went to college FT right after HS, SANS the debt and with a FEW YEARS of F/T WORK EXPERIENCE behind her (unlike her “career-student” peers). I see these entry-level workers all around me, so these positions still exist.

This is how my generation grew up. I know rents/utils are higher now, but why isn’t taking this route still possible??

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flu] …I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….[/quote]

flu, I think it’s okay if there are a lot of options. A HS student only has to pick ONE and successfully complete an ROP program. They can even take classes at CC thru ROP with Pigg Djshakes as their instructor. These instructors don’t have to be “credentialed.” They just have to be able to “talk it and walk it.” Just because Susie graduated from Djshake’s “Account Clerk Certificate Program” in one school year going half-time (9 mos) doesn’t mean she has to do it for the rest of her life. She just has to get an A/R or A/P job at the local car dealership after HS graduation, stay there awhile, get benefits and buy one of the best trade-ins that comes thru for herself. By age 20, she’ll have a nice car and be financially independent. Maybe she can even save up for her own wedding, lol! She might later decide to go back to college in the eves to further her accounting education while making $$ working during the day. No stress, maybe 1-2 classes at a time and still having a “life.” Even take online college classes.

This is a faster process into adulthood, flu and a debt-free process. By age 24 to 28, she’ll probably be making as much $$ as her peers who went to college FT right after HS, SANS the debt and with a FEW YEARS of F/T WORK EXPERIENCE behind her (unlike her “career-student” peers). I see these entry-level workers all around me, so these positions still exist.

This is how my generation grew up. I know rents/utils are higher now, but why isn’t taking this route still possible??

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flu] …I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….[/quote]

flu, I think it’s okay if there are a lot of options. A HS student only has to pick ONE and successfully complete an ROP program. They can even take classes at CC thru ROP with Pigg Djshakes as their instructor. These instructors don’t have to be “credentialed.” They just have to be able to “talk it and walk it.” Just because Susie graduated from Djshake’s “Account Clerk Certificate Program” in one school year going half-time (9 mos) doesn’t mean she has to do it for the rest of her life. She just has to get an A/R or A/P job at the local car dealership after HS graduation, stay there awhile, get benefits and buy one of the best trade-ins that comes thru for herself. By age 20, she’ll have a nice car and be financially independent. Maybe she can even save up for her own wedding, lol! She might later decide to go back to college in the eves to further her accounting education while making $$ working during the day. No stress, maybe 1-2 classes at a time and still having a “life.” Even take online college classes.

This is a faster process into adulthood, flu and a debt-free process. By age 24 to 28, she’ll probably be making as much $$ as her peers who went to college FT right after HS, SANS the debt and with a FEW YEARS of F/T WORK EXPERIENCE behind her (unlike her “career-student” peers). I see these entry-level workers all around me, so these positions still exist.

This is how my generation grew up. I know rents/utils are higher now, but why isn’t taking this route still possible??

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flu] …I think the problem with some of our U.S. society is that there appears to be “too many options” (or at least we tell folks this)…And as a result, people are very indecisive and constantly switch and waver….[/quote]

flu, I think it’s okay if there are a lot of options. A HS student only has to pick ONE and successfully complete an ROP program. They can even take classes at CC thru ROP with Pigg Djshakes as their instructor. These instructors don’t have to be “credentialed.” They just have to be able to “talk it and walk it.” Just because Susie graduated from Djshake’s “Account Clerk Certificate Program” in one school year going half-time (9 mos) doesn’t mean she has to do it for the rest of her life. She just has to get an A/R or A/P job at the local car dealership after HS graduation, stay there awhile, get benefits and buy one of the best trade-ins that comes thru for herself. By age 20, she’ll have a nice car and be financially independent. Maybe she can even save up for her own wedding, lol! She might later decide to go back to college in the eves to further her accounting education while making $$ working during the day. No stress, maybe 1-2 classes at a time and still having a “life.” Even take online college classes.

This is a faster process into adulthood, flu and a debt-free process. By age 24 to 28, she’ll probably be making as much $$ as her peers who went to college FT right after HS, SANS the debt and with a FEW YEARS of F/T WORK EXPERIENCE behind her (unlike her “career-student” peers). I see these entry-level workers all around me, so these positions still exist.

This is how my generation grew up. I know rents/utils are higher now, but why isn’t taking this route still possible??

[Author]

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