Do you believe that preparation for a career is a legitimate purpose of education?

Do all students, from the least motivated to the Ivy League hopefuls, need to have some idea of their career interests and what type of training it will take to reach their goals?

Many states have programsto better prepare all students -- whether college-bound or not -- for the career challenges they will face in the work world.

And by giving students a realistic idea about what jobs are available, schools and families can help them make more informed choices about where to invest their education dollars.

According to information from the National Center for Educational Studies, jobs requiring only a high school diploma will continue to disappear, while the number of jobs requiring a bachelor's degree will stay the same as it has since 1950.

Meanwhile, statistics show that skilled labor jobs -- positions like information specialists, radiation therapists or auto technicians -- are opening faster than employers can fill them. Some of these jobs require only a two-year associate's degree. Others require special certification or apprenticeship programs.

This means schools that flash colorful brochures from Big Ten schools and chant the college mantra -- while well intentioned -- may not be preparing students for the "real world."

In order to provide students with the information they need to better prepare for the world of work, the Career Preparation System in Michigan has developed a specific mission:

  • To expand the educational choices available to all students and parents.
  • To fully integrate career preparation into the curriculum.
  • To increase involvement of businesses and community organizations.
  • To establish standards and accountability state-wide to ensure consistent high-quality programs.

Career Preparation System initiatives aim to give all students three things: the basic academic and workplace readiness skills they will need, opportunities for career exploration and help in developing an education plan.

Also, the system makes professional and technical education more easily accessible and gets students involved with internships and on-the-job learning at a younger age.

John Williams, director of the MDE Career, Curriculum and Technical Education Services, said he is pleased with the program's success.

"Typically, the response has been very positive," Williams said, adding that although the initiative is voluntary, almost 90 percent of Michigan's school districts are currently participating.

Williams stressed that the Career Preparation System is not an effort to force young people into making premature career decisions.

"We want to make sure every student leaves high school with at least some initial career development," he said. "We know you're going to change your mind, but if you haven't been through the process of making initial decisions, how can you make a second one?"

Some opponents of such programs fear they may actually scare students out of attending traditional four-year schools by telling them post-graduation jobs will be scarce. They also worry that badly managed programs will take time away from academic learning and "dumb down" the curriculum.

To avoid these problems, the plan calls for standards by which to monitor the quality of its programs. Teachers and counselors will measure student achievement through testing, and review committees will make sure schools stay on the right track.

If the system works, everyone wins. Parents will waste less money on college tuition while a student takes time to "figure out" what he wants to be; students will get better grades in school if they work toward something they actually want to do; employers will have a higher quality, better skilled pool of workers from which to choose.

No one would dispute that our kids will have to find jobs someday. With the help of a well-planned system like this, we might be able to send them better prepared to find lifelong happiness -- and success -- in a career.

 

Kelly O'Connor is a freelance writer and an English student at the University of Michigan.