Professional And Technical High School

Professional And Technical High School

Professional And Technical High School

What is the value of vocational or technical education is often asked by many high school students, along with adults with only a high school degree. The problem with this issue originates from cultural expectations about post-secondary education, where the myth perseveres that success in life only comes from earning a four-year college degree. As a result, too much emphasis is placed on academic knowledge when earning a high school diploma.

Unfortunately this belief, what is the value of vocational or technical education, has led to a decreased emphasis in high schools for preparing students to enter two-year or professional schools. This lack of importance and academic focus has created a shortage of qualified workers, those holding an appropriate two-year degree or technical certificate, in over 80 percent of companies today (Up to the Challenge, Association for Career and Technical Education, 2010).

Typically vocational and technical education is designed for those who need or like to work with their hands or prefer work skills that require active engagement. These same people do not like to sit behind a desk and enjoy jobs which have changing experiences. Some of the highest paid people today are in the skilled trades, healthcare, and computer industry just to point out a few examples which do require a four-year college degree.