Thank you for the feedback.

The partnership between the Animal Shelter and ROC is an excellent example of opportunities that are currently available.

If any local business thinks they may be able to use ROC student interns, please contact Sandi Banducci at sandi_banducci@khsd.k12.ca.us — she will coordinate contact with the proper instructor at the ROC to determine if a partnership can be developed.

Another success regarding animals, we are working very well with ROC’s Jerry Ponchetta-at least I think that’s how its spelled (who does a great job, by the way) and his animal care kids. They help with shelter care, grooming and most recently, we have some in our veterinary medical program. Since October, we have had approx. 34 ROC students rotate through our Medical Program. They have been educated on the overpopulation problem in Kern County, the importance of spaying and neutering, etc. as well as learned valuable animal handling and care skills such as assisting with adoption exams on shelter animals, holding animals for routine medical care (e.g.. cleaning wounds, skin scrapes, fecal examinations), becoming familiar with laboratory testing such as microscopic examinations for mites/parasites, and have become proficient at scanning the animals for microchips, taking animal temperatures and observing the animals for clinical signs such as coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea. All hours spent with the Veterinary Team count towards the accelerated Registered Veterinary Technician Program. The kids also help out at events, providing shelter tours to attendees. All in all, a great partnership.

Mr. Vegas, please change your focus to the students of our wonderful community, and Mr. Heinrichs, if you are elected I entreat you to do the same.

For the record, I am a rare thing in Kern County indeed, a liberal Christian, and I feel sorry for the shaky faith of those who feel it necessary to justify their faith with junk science. I believe without question in an omnimpotent, amazing God who created the universe in an orderly, logical fashion, and do not see how Darwin’s theory of evolution is in conflict with this magnificent Creator.

Excellent points.

As to the time issue for CAHSEE — today, if a student wants to take a 3 hour voc ed class at ROC they lose a period at their home school due to mid-day travel. This requirement effectively eliminates many of the students you mentioned. If they spent the entire day at a Senior Tech High, they could still take a three hour voc ed class, two required courses, and a remedial course if necessary.

As to your second question, I suspect most students would still prefer a comprehensive high school – at least for frosh/soph years. Thus, offer a fulltime Senior Tech High for those that are sure they want to pursue career tech ed, but also expand the offerings on comprehensive campuses of career academies and similar voc ed courses that do not require highly specialized facilities. These programs can vary by campus.

Further, while I doubt a large percentage of students would choose a 4 year technical high school – we may want to experiment with a small, district – sponsored charter school or two to test a four year program. Successful models exist in San Diego and Bay Area.

Thank you for your comments.

In general, I believe the current process for reviewing curriculum to ensure it is appropriate seems effective. There has not been a repeat of an incident similar to The Bluest Eye controversy in the last several years.

Joel

In recent years there has been controversy over Toni Morrison’s novel
The Bluest Eye and whether or not it should be taught to high school
students. What are your thoughts about banning books from the KHSD? Do
you favor all out banning of certain books, or do you prefer to set
guidelines as was done in the case above?

Excellent question.

Taking a page from the research of the Gates Foundation (and others), we are banking on the power of relevance. Rather than put below grade level kids in two math sections, for example, if we had a full time vocational education campus we might be able to keep those kids in one section of vocational education w/ infused math and a second period of remedial math. Hopefully, not as bored w/ the “seat work” if it is only one period — and more motivated too boot if the math skills relate to the hands on learning — performance may improve.

Today a student taking a 3 hour class at the Regional Occupational Center (ROC) loses a period in travel – only leaving room for two classes per day at the “home” school in most cases. This situation excludes exactly the type of students you reference. If we eliminated that mid-day travel, more students could fit graduation/exit exam requirements and voc ed into their schedule.

The twin prongs of more time and more interest still won’t be enough for every student, of course, but I think it will broaden the range of students able to participate.

Again, thank you for your excellent question.

Joel

I agree that vocational programs are necessary, but I don’t think the students that most need them will be able to benefit from them. It is the less academically inclinded students who most need vocational training. Unfortunately, these are the same students who are often forced to take extra English and math sections so they can pass the CAHSEE.

Where do you see vocational education fitting in for the students who need it the most – the ones who aren’t performing at grade level?

Like your son, I was a very good student, involved in athletics, ASB, etc. I had to drop band (which I did in Junior High) to make room for academics and sports. As we push more and more remediation for core academics – both career/technical training and fine arts are being squeezed. All are necessary for a well rounded education — and can be central to engaging young people not on the college prep. track.

Hopefully, with a little creativity, we can find a way to broaden the educational experiences available.

Thank you for your comments.