Salem High School

Salem, Missouri

Teacher: John Hendricks

 

Youth Apprenticeship Programs

By Julie Inman

 

 

The state of Indiana has come up with many strategies to improve the status of their workforce. These strategies focus on support for families and children, high academic standards for all students, technology in the classroom, financial aid for post secondary education, adult education and retraining, and new strategies for economic development. 

           

Through these efforts, Indiana has come up with the School-to-Work system. The main objective of this program is "to ensure that every Hoosier student graduates from high school with the knowledge and skills necessary to: succeed in high performance workplaces, master challenging post secondary curriculum, and engage in lifelong learning." This program is designed to increase the students' chances of being successful in the classroom and in their career choice. It is intended to increase academic achievement and ensure career readiness for all students including kindergarten through college.

       

Indiana's School-to-Work system has helped students move more easily from school into employment or furthering their education, but the effort has not been made equally statewide. The system needs to be refined so that the opportunities and advantages are offered to all Indiana students. The state is making the necessary efforts now to improve the program. The only way that these efforts may be successful is when all stakeholders form partnerships, use resources efficiently, and have all of their goal strategies meet the needs of all the students. 

           

In 1994, the federal school-to-work grant was applied for by the state of Indiana under the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. In 1995, the state received a five-year venture capital grant of $32 million from the U.S. Department of Education and Labor. This money was used to build Indiana's school-to-work system. In 1995-96, Regional School-to-Work (STW) Partnerships received $10,000 in planning grants and in 1996-97 after completing the Regional STW Plan they began receiving implementation grants.

       

Indiana's School-to-Work system is part of a statewide effort to help students get a head start on a life-long career path. Unlike in the past, this nation is trying to better prepare its students for their future.  Getting a head start can only improve their chances of having a successful future and career. Many states, like Indiana, are coming up with different strategies to help America's youth succeed in the real world.

      

 "The School-to-Work partnerships link employers, labor, communities, schools, families, and students to improve every student's chance of succeeding in the classroom and in their career." It is community based. It's a benefit to the students as well as to the employers. It benefits the local businesses. While it provides educational benefits, it also provides employers with employees.  It also helps the community economically.

       

This type of education is hands-on. The student actually gets immediate results and benefits from it. They get paid for learning and gain work skills. The student can indeed use these skills. Unlike in the classroom, when students are doing paperwork and it is hard for them to realize when, where, and how they will apply the skills they are studying.  These work-based programs, like Indiana's STW system, link classroom concepts to hands-on skill training.

       

The STW system increases the students' career options. They learn at an earlier age what careers interest them and which ones they might choose. They realize they have a variety of options to choose from. They are not as limited as in the past.

       

This program connects classroom learning with career preparation. The average student is better prepared for the working world than those who do not go through a system similar to this one. It benefits the student by linking classroom activities to their working skills, which they will need for their future career choice.

       

A program similar to this one would be a great addition to the Salem Senior High School's curriculum. It would benefit all students, their parents, local businesses, and the community as a whole. More students would go into the workforce better prepared. They would attain the skills they need for their future career goals. 

           

One obstacle that the Dent County area might face is that there are not enough local businesses to support the program. Therefore, the surrounding areas such as Licking and Rolla could combine their programs with Salem so the Salem students could also work at their businesses, and their students could work in Salem. It would better all of the communities involved.

       

This type of program is needed in the Salem area. It would help motivate and promote higher academic achievements and secure all students' career readiness. Our students today are our future workforces. The community must work together as a whole to better prepare them for their future. With the support of everyone and a program like this the students will advance and continue to grow and develop into contributing, productive citizens of Dent County.

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