Get Schooled

By jim d

January 10, 2007 08:28 AM | Link to this

All I can say is that it would appear he’s on the right track.

Getting politicans out of education would be an excellent starting point.

By jim d

January 10, 2007 08:42 AM | Link to this

And Bridget, your choice of resturants could have been a bit better.

Truett Cathy ,founder of Chick-fil-a, has been a god send to a lot of students. Cathy’s approach is largely driven by personal satisfaction and a sense of obligation to the community and its young people. His WinShape Centre® Foundation, founded in 1984, grew from his desire to “shape winners” by helping young people succeed in life through scholarships and other youth-support programs. The foundation annually awards 20 to 30 students wishing to attend Berry College with scholarships up to $32,000 that are jointly funded by the Rome, Ga. institution. In addition, through its Leadership Scholarship Program, the Chick-fil-A chain has given more than $20 million dollars in $1,000 scholarships to Chick-fil-A restaurant employees since 1973.

By meme

January 10, 2007 09:02 AM | Link to this

I agree with jim d., don’t pick on Chick-fil-a. Cathy has made a lot of donations to education. I was a recipient of a grant from him to study career education.

By Bridget Gutierrez

January 10, 2007 09:17 AM | Link to this

Who’s picking on Chick-fil-A? I was just using it as an example of a common place where high school students hold after-school jobs.

My point was that many, many students already are working part-time jobs that are giving them an introduction to the work world.

What I’m wondering is: Do internships give them something beyond what they get from those regular jobs?

By beth

January 10, 2007 09:28 AM | Link to this

I don’t think fast food “internships” are what the governor had in mind. Let’s think a minute here. Students might benefit from shadowing at a hospital or physical therapy business if they are interested in the medical field. Education=they could be teacher’s assistants for one class period a day (this would work best on block scheduling). Students interested in business/computers could benefit from interning at a corporation.

Internships probably shouldn’t be mandatory for all students because of the lack of sites in the rural areas, but it should definitely be an option.

By Ernest

January 10, 2007 09:28 AM | Link to this

In fairness, I don’t consider ‘flipping burgers’ an internship. I see an internship as working in a professional field. If students had opportunities observing/working in the backoffice of an organization, so as to gain insight on careers such as accounting, marketing, IT, etc., it could provide great value.

There are many kids that don’t know what the business world is like because they have not been exposed to it. I applaud the governor for challenging the business community to help with this.

By luvs2teach

January 10, 2007 09:37 AM | Link to this

I’d say it depends on the internship - if it’s just something that the student is already “qualified for” - like making change in a store or restaurant, then I’d say no. But if the internship involves real-world experience that is like job-training then I’d say yes. Examples would be a drafting student working in an architects office, a cosmetology student working at a salon, a landscaping student working in a greenhouse, a business student working in an office, or an auto shop stuent working in at a mechanics.

Students interested in medicine could work at a hospital or a clinic. Students interested in zoology or veterinary medicine could work at the zoo, humane society, pet store or vet clinic. Students interested in history or library science could work at a library. Students interested in law or politics could intern at a law office or at the state house for their local rep (I did that in high school - very interesting experience).

And of course, a student interested in journalism could intern at the AJC!

By em

January 10, 2007 09:44 AM | Link to this

The first step to getting a true reflection of student performance in Georgia (at least at the high school level)is for the State Department of Education to stop curving the hell out of the EOCTs. They are a joke as is the Georgia High School Graduation Test.

By meme

January 10, 2007 09:57 AM | Link to this

Didn’t mean to rock the boat.

By GW

January 10, 2007 09:59 AM | Link to this

My son interned as a Pharmacy Tech his senior year. If he did not do that he would have been stuck at school in some useless class just to kill time. He learned an awful lot about pharmacy and even more about dealing with people.

By meme

January 10, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

Some people are never going to be able to do much more than flip burgers. That is going to be their career, if they are lucky. I don’t see anything wrong with an ‘internship’ in any industry. IMHO

By JustMe

January 10, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

Purdue still does not get it. The big problem in education isn’t the teachers and business people cannot help. The big problem is the large number of “parents” that do not really parent in our State.

As a practicing teacher, I see large numbers of “parents” that feel that their only job is to supply material things. They do not teach values, morals, a sense of responsibility, etc.

If Perdue wants to fix education, he first must fix parents.

By Ernest

January 10, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

JustMe:

I understand your concern and frustration. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if any politician can ‘fix’ parents. I’m sure you would agree, some students can be reached in spite of their parents. I see this as worthwhile if teachers like yourself, who recognize students that fall into this category, refers them to opportunities like this. This could be the ‘jumpstart’ that some who want to succeed yet lack parental guidance could flourish in.

Like meme said, some will end up flipping burgers. At the end of the day, we will need those people also. An internship isn’t needed for that.

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 10, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

Isn’t it ironic that a Republican governor, of the party that talks of “personal responsibility” and “rule of law” will do absolutely nothing about the discipline problems in the public schools? Make students responsible for their behavior, (by introducing consequences, like they will see in the real world) and enforce the rules of school (like the laws they will see in the real world) and then you will have reform…not facade like we have now. And as a side note, why haven’t the educator reporters done an article on State Representative Daryl Jordan’s “Teacher Bill of Rights” that would, among other things, offer teachers protection for trying to hold students accountable for learning and administrators accountable for the teaching conditons needed to learn?

By WhatWillBridgetDo?

January 10, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

Re: Bridget’s quote, “Then I learned the importance of teachers’ groups, which give cover for individuals…” With all due respect, if these groups are so important, isn’t it important to report on them accurately? The education reports constantly refer to PAGE and GAE as “teachers’ organizations”. They emphatically are not. Because they allow teachers and administrators to join, by their very nature, they cannot give a “voice to voiceless teachers” because it would be in direct conflict with the administrative members of each group. Why have you never made this distinction in your reporting, and at the very least, start accurately referring to GAE and PAGE as “educators’ organizations” and not teachers’ organizations? This is not to say that GAE and PAGE are inherently evil, just that they are limited in fully advocating for teachers and one would think that a reporter would note that. Also have you, as an education reporter, interviewed and followed up with an article on the one organization that can and does give a voice to voiceless teachers, the Metro Association of Classroom Educators? They are “teachers only” and thus can advocate for teachers without conflict. But your readers won’t know this if you won’t report it. I’d like to know if the regulars on this board see a pattern of our host not being willing to actively participate, and not willing to report on issues brought up by bloggers when they expose an “inconvenient truth”? I think as an education reporter who acknowledges that teachers fear going on the record, our host could be doing a lot more to get the teacher’s point of view out their. Asking what the governor thinks, or about some report a think tank came up with, just doesn’t cut it, if there are major issues with discipline, with teachers facing retaliation for speaking out, for giving grades students have earned etc. I’m I in a minority here, or do some of the regular posters (you know who you are) share the concern that our host does not seem as willing as Patti to address concerns bloggers bring up, especially when it comes to the way reporters at the AJC report on stories. At the very least, Patti would address such, and was willing to “belly up to the bar” and tell us where she was coming from. I see this lacking now; if I’m wrong regulars, (again, you know who you are) then by all means take me to task on it! And if there is some credence to what I say, help give it a voice in the hopes of improving the impact that this blog can have. Bridget are you out there? Inquiring minds want to know.

By Vicki

January 10, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

A local branch of Washington Mutual has an internship program for the seniors from our high school. I’ve worked with this bank for “Bank Day” at our elementary school the past 3 years and have seen 6 or 7 seniors working as interns. The bank manager loves the program and he feels the students want to work. The real world experience is a wonderful opportunity for the students.

Also, my husband owns an architectural firm and has had several students come in a “shadow” him at the request of the kids’ parents. The students get to actually get to see if they are interested in this particular field.

By Veteran

January 10, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

Bridget - internships are already available in Georgia high schools; the program is called the Youth Apprenticeship Program. At our school students are particularly interested in internships in the medical and legal fields; others are involved in law enforcement apprenticeships. Instead of parents “allowing” (encouraging?) students to take 1/4 of the school day and having Minimum Day, or daily vacation time to possibly go “flip burgers,” why not disallow minimum day altogether and instead encourage apprenticeships and internships? Same basic concept, but students can shadow career fields that require some post-secondary education, not just a strong wrist for flipping. Another idea to piggyback onto the YAP program would be to encourage students to shadow programs at nearby colleges and universities. My own son, in his mid-twenties, just made the observation that IF he had been aware of the programs available at Ga Tech, he would have been motivated to work harder to be accepted. Only now does he finally understand why all of his teachers and his parents begged him to “apply himself” so his options could be limitless. Sometimes students tune out the words, but comprehend the visions. We need to be in the business of pointing students toward those visions.

By wwww

January 10, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

This is news? I’m confused. Programs like this have existed in Georgia schools for as long as I can remember, I was a participant in one my Senior year. It was a wonderful experience, true, but nothing new.

By jim d

January 10, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Sorry Bridget,

Didn’t mean to put you on a hot seat over Truett Cathy. just wanted to point out some of the good things he’s done for a lot of kids. The world could use a few more like him.

As for discipline in our schools? there really is an easy fix, one that would place responsibility back at home. Simply quit trying to be the end-all for students. If they break the law—have them arrested. It wouldn’t take long for parents to get the message, and I asssure you that once parents get it the kids would GET IT too.

Now for a few old timers—a short walk down memory lane.”the good old days!”

Remember when the worst thing you could do at school was to smoke in the bathroom, flunk a test or chew gum?

Remember when being sent to the principals office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited us when we got home? Remember fearing for your life not because of drugs, gangs or drive by shootings but the larger threat you had to face from your parents? We survived because their love was greater than the threat.

Ok, did it feel good to go back and say. Yeah, I remember that?

With all of the progress don’t you wish, just once, we could slip back in time and savor the slower pace and share it with the kids of today?

By ellemem

January 10, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Why should the internships wait until the student is in high school? Many students are already behind, or have the wrong attitude about school, by the time they reach high schoo.

As a middle school teacher, I’d like to see internships/real world experience offered to 8th graders. These are the students who need to realize that the decisions that they make in high school, even in the 9th grade, effect their future.

By jim d

January 10, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this

ellemem,

The question begs to be asked.

Why are they that far behind?

That is of course a rhetorical question. But one that really needs to be addressed and addressed at the elementary level. If y’all would quit passing them on, we wouldn’t have the problem. (y’all= public education)

By jim d

January 10, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this

Internship? Nothing new. We had it back in the 60’s. Only we called it work release.

My Senior year required an hour and a half at school since I already had all my credits and required classes.

I worked a commercial farm the rest of the day. Yeah, I know, a few folks may think that doesn’t teach any usable job traits. I however disagree. It taught me “work ethic” which I believe is the most valuable lesson youth can learn. It will serve them well regardless of what occupation they chose.

By Dara

January 10, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

On December 14, 2006, the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce unveiled Tougher Choices or Tougher Times, a report calling for the biggest changes in the American education system in a century. Look for this report to influence legislation because it has the financial backing of corporate America. The report recommends federalization, schools run as businesses, and more “accountability” (i.e., tests). The failure of this influential group to realize that schools reflect communities means Tougher Choices or Tougher Times is off-base and addresses a symptom, not the actual ailment. The key indicator for “failing” schools is the community’s average earned income. The problem is not schools, teachers, or curriculum, but community socio-economic indicators. Schools in rural Georgia don’t prepare many nuclear scientists because the majority of jobs (and parents) are in textile mills, pulp mills, and poultry farms. Mysteriously, communities with upwardly mobile, intellectual, socio-economically advantaged residents tend to have similar schools.

For generations teachers have maximizing individual potential and planted seeds for upward socio-economic mobility—emphasizing an education of the head, heart, and hands. All communities need innovative problem solvers, public servants, and diligent workers. The current notion that “smarter” test-savvy graduates will solve our nation’s ills is foolish. Educating head, heart, and hands—academics, arts, and athletics—will yield a far better society than Tougher Choices or Tougher Times. Our nation has risen to greatness through innovative problem-solvers in a free market—a place where invention and providing a better product pays off. Cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all, standards-based schools that equate and education to standardized test scores are the anti-thesis of what America needs.

Tougher Choices or Tougher Times appears to have no teacher fingerprints on it at all. Teachers have become America’s “whipping boy”. Once the last child-centered teachers are “flogged” out of the system, what will be left? I can’t help but think the New Commission of the Skills of the American Workforce would condemn schooling altogether if they could figure out how to insert a memory chip or program industry standards into children. I foresee disenchanted “industrial drone” graduates who are overweight and aesthetically clueless, or, rebellious drop-outs in pursuit of the American Dream.

Today’s educational landscape makes me wonder where one has to go to find the profession I entered three decades ago—you know, the one with locally governed, community-based, child-centered, liberal arts embracing schools where teachers tried to maximize each student’s potential. The kind of schools that prepared our nation’s best and brightest, as well as toughest and most dependable, for global ascendance, cutting-edge technological development, and a shot at success for anyone who wanted to make the effort.

By ToJimd,KA,SET,et.al.

January 10, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

ToJim d and the other regulars: Belly up to the bar! Yes, yes, yes, teachers must stop passing them when they can’t even read. But right now, they don’t want to commit “Doc Reace” en masse. What to do? In addition to what you already do, I encourage you to read a few posts up “WhatWillBridgetDo?” and hold the Fourth Estate’s feet to the fire. The Fourth Estate can be a bully pulpit to advocate for legislation, policy and such that will allow teachers feeling empowered enough to enforce the consequences needed, to give the grades earned, the whole nine yards. I think our representative of the Fourth Estate needs to do better (the example of PAGE and GAE not being “teachers’ organizations” is but one small example) in using this blog, as well as the AJC coverage to bring these issues to light. Agree or disagree? Seems to be some tippytoeing around this issue, or is it just me?

By decaturparent

January 10, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Dara, you rock. Although, you are pretty off topic, but that’s just a technicality.

Perdue is wasting his time.

If you have had it with you child being treated as a widget (and the widgetting hasn’t even really begun yet… wait until we edge toward 2014). Go to http://www.educatorroundtable.org and sign the petition demanding that Congress dismantle NCLB so they they can start over and come up with something that acutally promotes the skills that our kids will need in this century. Better yet, get involved!

With NCLB choking off anything interesting or creative in high schools, don’t count on high schools wasting time with real world experiences such as internships. Internships aren’t on the GHSGT.

Well, maybe the high achievers will get to do these internships, but they typically have the least need for it b/c they have managerial/professional parents who can arrange for all sorts of internship and shadowing opportunities in the summer, etc. The kids who need the internship opportunities the most will be too busy with remedial reading. You can’t force knowledge down a kid’s throat if they see no value in it. They aren’t geese.

By MrLiberty

January 10, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Maybe Mr. Perdue could introduce legislation reducing or eliminating the tax and regulatory burden the state currently imposes on business. While he’s at it, why not also amend the labor laws. All of these costs to business are just flushed down the government waste hole with no real benefit to business.

Maybe once the chains are off businesses might be in a better position to not only employ people in internship positions, but they might also have enought monely to high them for real once their time in schoool is up.

By GAeducator

January 10, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

How will providing internship programs help students in rural Georgia? There are a number of counties with little if any opportunities for students to have afterschool jobs. The possibilities for internships could easily be limited to agriculture/farms, the very environment where the students live. There are schools in areas where the nearest shopping is 20-30 miles down the road. If you don’t believe there are areas like this in Georgia, take trip to Ludowici. Not every 16 year old in Georgia has their own vehicle. And what about the changing laws regarding driver’s licenses for teens? More limitations on student opportunities! Although Governor Perdue is from a once rural area of Georgia (Bonaire/Warner Robins is no longer rural), he seems to forget that there is another “Georgia”, one that is not easily recognized by the metro Atlanta population. Fixing education is not possible by applying one band-aid over another. Real educational reform begins and ends within the walls of the classroom.

By OldSchool

January 10, 2007 01:21 PM | Link to this

I was under the impression that an internship was very different from work release and Youth Apprenticeships. An internship might not be a paid position but a credit-bearing one that introduces the student to a particular employer/industry. They are usually limited to a school term and the student may have associated “schoolwork” to complete for credit. Youth Apprenticeships SHOULD be learning/earning at the side of a master. Students should be employed in a field they have an interest in or want a career in. Work release was getting out of school early to go to a job…whatever that job might be…and no credit was given.

I’m all for valid internships. Both my girls did them…one at Disney Orlando (public relations) and the other at Dreamworks in Nashville (recording industry). Both are now employed in their respective fields, happy, and doing quite well.