RE: Question 2-b

We had many discussions at SIP meetings at our high school about having vocational courses available for students who were not 'college bound' because of interest or ability.

Many of us were concerned about limiting a student's options so early.

* Some students take longer to mature.  They may not look or behave like 'college bound' students in the first or second year of high school.

* How many of us knew our life path in high school?  If we aim to prepare students for a variety of choices after high school, more options are open when they do make a decsion.

* Some students may be 'college bound' but also want more active learning opportunties than sitting in another academic class.  I knew some students who would not have stayed in high school without the participation in band or chorus.  Some went to work out of high school, some decided to go on to college but it was the opportunity for more active learning that supported them in the other classes, that provided the options after high school.

*Who decides which students would go into the vocational track, and who would go into the college track? and what criteria would be used to make this judgement?

*If the student changes their after high school goal, how can they switch tracks and make up for the courses they did not take...when high school schedules are so rigid (you get 4 years, and only 4 years)