Definition of “School to Work”
or “Career Pathways”

What it is NOT:  an improved vo-tech system which simply offers students exposure to the world of work through a career day or job shadowing experience.

Stripped of deceptive packaging, “School-to-Work” or “Career Pathways is”:

•     A STATE-MANAGED ECONOMY
•     Schools as training centers for state projected employment slots.
•     Appointed bureaucrats (“regional labor market boards”) who will:
•     Determine requirements for specific jobs
•     Issue certificates
•      Decide which job skills schools teach
• Collect data to match jobs and people.

Schools will gear their instructional programs to fit the “needs” of the regional economy.  Businesses, as “partners”, will get stuck with the bill (jobs, mentors, facilities, and hardware) for the system!

GONE IS THE TRADITIONAL WELL- ROUNDED, LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION.  Adolescents will be choosing career majors! Welcome to the system that produces workers for the 21st century.  “Productive Labor”, rather than an educated populace, is the end-all of education.

• ALL students will be counseled at the earliest age possible, but no later than the 7th grade, to choose a career path. (Yes - your child will have to choose a career path!)


• ALL students will engage in work based experiences, during school hours, which will be governed by a contract between the student, school and employer. (Whether you want them to or not - there is no opting out!)


• The Commission on Student Learning will turn to business and labor to ensure that educators understand what students need to know. (Businesses will participate in the development of local school curriculum - whether you want them to or not!)


• Business, labor and other parties will be fully involved in the development of skill standards to determine duties, tasks, skills, knowledge and attitudes of successful workers.


• Basic skills and industry specific skills, according to local labor markets, will be embedded in academic standards, assessments and curriculum development. (Can you say "watered-down academics"?)


• New teaching methods stress group learning over individual achievement will be used.


• Teaching will be offered in the context of work. There will be no separation between what work requires and what students are taught.


• Data concerning every aspect of our children's school and work experiences will be collected and made available to business, government and other entities through national databases.