My letter to Obama about higher education

[AndreaCG]

This is something I feel strongly about, and that I think he's neglected:

Dear President-Elect Obama,

First, my sincere congratulations. A burden has been lifted from my shoulders.

Second, when you speak about funding higher education, please amend your words to include funding scholarships and loans for colleges and accredited trade schools. Not everybody has the academic credentials to go to college. Furthermore, our economy needs skilled workers in professions that colleges do not teach, especially manual labor and other blue or pink collar jobs. This will be particularly important when rebuilding our infrastructure. Let's make sure that future "Joe the Plumber"s have the requisite skills to get a plumber's license!


I requested an answer and I really hope that it's more than just a form letter.

[sandnsea]

1. Community College Partnership Program

Community colleges are a vital component of our higher education system, serving 12 million people
each year, almost half the undergraduate students in the U.S. Without community colleges, millions of
people would not be able to access the education and skills they need to further education or succeed in the workplace. Barack Obama will create a Community College Partnership Program to strengthen community colleges by providing grants to (a) conduct more thorough analysis of the types of skills and technical education that are in high demand from students and local industry; (b) implement new associate of arts degree programs that cater to emerging industry and technical career demands; and (c)reward those institutions that graduate more students and also increase their numbers of transfer students to four-year institutions. These efforts will ensure that community college students are able to directly use their skills in the workforce following graduation, and be prepared to continue their higher education. And the grants will support programs that facilitate transfers from two-year institutions to four-year institutions.

http://obama.3cdn.net/c16add4876056665c7_i42mvyxby.pdf

[AndreaCG]

2. I googled Bronx Community College

I have no idea how typical its curriculum is compared to other community colleges, and I'm not about to do a comprehensive study. But there were only a few majors that I think of as trade school curriculum, namely computer science and automotive technology. They have RN and LPN programs but not the less demanding nurses aide program. There was nothing in the building industry, in plumbing, in air conditioning and refrigeration repair, just to name a few. Many jobs do not require academics but specialized courses designed to teach a trade. I submit that Obama has not addressed this type of education in his community college proposal.

[sandnsea]

3. Different colleges offer different trades

Every community college cannot offer every trade. It just isn't possible. Also, I think if you look closely at the LPN program, you'll see that getting a CNA is possible after some of the introductory courses. Finally, the federal govt can't micro-manage every community college and decide exactly what local industry needs educated workers the most. There are also public and private educational institutions, as well as training programs through local unions. What really needs to happen is that high school students need more information about what is available, way more information. That was addressed, in part, by another piece of Obama legislation where high school students get assistance in paying for college credits while they're in high school. That will help kids start to look at the opportunities available, outside of the traditional college path. Our high school has a college program that helps kids get that CNA at the community college. But we have an elderly population who will need health services. Other communities might have more of a need for day care. Provide the funds and some measurement of success. That's the only way to go.

[AndreaCG]

4. Your title says it all

Which is why we need the scholarships and loans to accredited trade schools too.

[sandnsea]

5. There are public and private schools

There are a variety of avenues people can take to learn a trade. Loans and grants DO go to trade schools. Have you never seen Sally Struthers telling you that you can earn this or that certificate at home? Have you never seen the trucking school ads? Or the beauty school ads? There are all kinds of schools that accept federal money, since that's your point.