No, so many schools have eliminated this option all together. Or they only allow kids who are struggling enter the program. There’s no reason a book smart kid should be prevented from pursuing plumbing if that’s what they want. Not every kid needs or wants or should go to traditional college!
Typing and basic computer knowledge (including internet safety) should also be a mandatory class in high school.
Oh normalizing distancing oneself from toxic family members. Just because they are family doesn’t mean you have to have a relationship with them.
This sucks. The high school where H is teaching and where E will go (and where I and my mom went!) has always had a big vocational program. H is amazed at what they offer and E mentioned something about being an electrician. She’s only 12 but I said she can try it out in high school. We need more women in trades.
The district I attended PreK-12th just started up a vocational school in the last few years. I'm so excited. :-)
Post by fortnightlily on Feb 25, 2023 10:25:03 GMT -5
Oh! I thought of another one. I would really like to re-normalize allowing kids to be outdoors and play unsupervised. The way it was when our parents were kids and we were kids but somehow there's been this annoying weird swing and people clutch their pearls or interrogate (or even call the cops) on kids for walking somewhere (or sitting in a car for a few minutes on a temperate day) untroubled without an adult. Obviously I'm not talking about babies or toddlers.
The fact that kids don’t need to know for sure what they want to do with their life in regards to their careers in middle school or even in the beginning of high school.
Discussing how youth sports has become a capitalistic hellscape and we should normalize leaning out of competitive sports for kids and focusing more on leisurely fun.
I'm projecting here, lol.
We switched DS2 (only 7) from the y league because they were so competitive. They already had a team/b team in first grade! We have been enjoying i9 sports because they focus on sportsmanship vs winning.
Not going to college. Trade schools near me have been gutted. Various for-profit training schools have cropped up in their place. Education has turned into a big business along with everything else.
Oh! I thought of another one. I would really like to re-normalize allowing kids to be outdoors and play unsupervised. The way it was when our parents were kids and we were kids but somehow there's been this annoying weird swing and people clutch their pearls or interrogate (or even call the cops) on kids for walking somewhere (or sitting in a car for a few minutes on a temperate day) untroubled without an adult. Obviously I'm not talking about babies or toddlers.
Interestingly, re: trade schools/vo-tech-- my H went to tech school in high school. At the time there was a heavy stigma around it-- there was a perception that you went there if you couldn't "do better". He has had a great career in the trades and consistently has made as much or more than I do with a degree.
My son is now looking at tech school for next year. It is competitive to get in. A friend's son tried to transfer there after not doing well his first year of high school-- they were willing to try any program just to get him in. They were declined because there were no open spots in any program.
We won't find out until May if DS gets in. I'm not super hopeful about his first choice because it's a very small program with limited spots, but hope he will at least get his second choice.
Long way of saying, we are not seeing a decline in trade education here-- if anything there is a surge in interest and perception of the program is much more positive now than it was when I was in high school.
Taking earned vacation/sick time without issue/guilt trip.
Just last week my principal said parents were complaining that I’ve been out with my sick baby (since daycare sends her home with a sniffle, it seems like). I have no choice, I have no help, and my DH and I take turns. We are doing the best that we can, fuck off parents.
Ugh, sorry about their shitty attitudes. I'm honestly surprised DD's teacher hasn't been out more this year. I have no idea what her H does (I know she has an H) but she's got a kindergartener in the same school and a 3 year old in the daycare that's housed in the school. There have been SO many illnesses ripping through the school this year. She and her kids are triple exposed to that cesspool!
Post by emilyinchile on Feb 25, 2023 11:47:42 GMT -5
jinkies having grown up in Silicon Valley I'm not aware of any of the high schools around me having had that kind of program (no clue about now). That's awesome that it's an option some places though!
Not going to college. Trade schools near me have been gutted. Various for-profit training schools have cropped up in their place. Education has turned into a big business along with everything else.
Agree! Also learning on the job. I work in Marketing and Communications and do not have a degree in either (my degrees are unrelated). I can't think of what a degree in either subject would have given me that learning on the job didn't, other than ticking the box of "I have this degree so am clearly employable in this field". I think we also need to normalize (and value!) transferable skills and varied educational/work experience.
Post by maudefindlay on Feb 25, 2023 11:52:28 GMT -5
Our high schools have a career driven path/degree. Kids can take a shuttle between the high schools to attend these courses as there are different ones at different schools. One school has a dental office simulated and they partner with local dental practices. One has a doctors office and preps kids to do all the intake (take vitals), to do billing, front office medical stuff. Along with auto mechanic courses etc.
Men being involved in school stuff. Our conferences sign-up was 100% women. Men don't help out with school parties, reading group type volunteering, PTA, or attend basically anything unless the wife is there too. It's so maddening to me. Our elementary school has one male teacher and one male para, plus the male custodians.
Divorce for no reason other than, "I deserve to be happy and being NOT married to this person is the first step on that path."
And along that line, co-parenting in an open, transparent way. I consider my ExH and his girlfriend friends AND co-parents. They are lovely together and certainly better than he and I ever were. For reasons beyond my understanding, people cannot wrap their heads around the idea that I divorced him because I didn't want to be married to him (or anyone else) and that I don't hate him, speak ill of him, or wish him any kind of misfortune.
I still vacation with my ex husband (no kids). The reactions I get to that are usually silence - people literally do not know what to say. We divorced because the marriage ran its course not because we hated each other. In fact, he is still one of my best friends. Why wouldn’t I vacation with a best friend??
H and I sleep apart and I love it. Much better than all the guilt about trying to make sleeping together work while breeding resentment. We have different sleep habits and like our own spaces to unwind.
We recently bought a new bed and turned the guest room into a second master bedroom. We’re both much happier with making this a permanent thing. We make a point to say good night, hang, cuddle, and go our separate ways to sleep.
Our sex life is better than ever. It feels fun and fresh, like when we were first dating.
Post by litskispeciality on Feb 25, 2023 12:09:51 GMT -5
A little off track re: trade/vocational schools...
The state where I grew up had very few, and my town wasn't allowed an option to enroll full time as we weren't in any of the districts. I didn't even know they existed until my junior year. Some kids could bus to another high school half the day, but lost probably 2 periods driving there and back.
The state where I live now has more voc schools, but enrollment is about 1500 for many towns. There are often waitlists and denied kids. Big debates if "academically strong kids deserve a seat as they'll do fine in regular HS and/or will go to college", but really everyone deserves the chance. I wish they'd add more options.
Gap years too. Trust me it's making my job super hard to enroll students, but if it means they don't fail out of a bad fit, or are more ready for college whenever they enroll. Even save up money, have a better idea of what you want to do etc.
And I'll add my vote to normalizing community college for everyone.
Post by litskispeciality on Feb 25, 2023 12:14:09 GMT -5
Oh and I had my brows done today but she had trouble because of the face creams I need for acne. Again normalize facial hair and bad skin. Some people just won't have good skin, and some people can't afford good treatment (that doesn't always work)
Post by Jalapeñomel on Feb 25, 2023 12:17:19 GMT -5
NYC has really one real vocational school left, where students can apprentice and then graduate with a job and trade. But it’s really difficult to get into, and it’s really hard for students to graduate (balancing both school and apprenticeship is very difficult for most kids). The city has money to invest in these programs, but they don’t. The push is that everyone should go to college.
White, suburban areas seems to have a lot more of these vocational opportunities than other places, but that’s really par for the course.
I wish we’d normalize *not* congratulating someone on a pregnancy who hasn’t initiated that conversation themselves. You don’t know if they’re just fat, have diastasis recti, or now in light of abortion bans, whether they’re even happy to be pregnant or if they’re carrying a fetus that will survive. Congratulating everyone with a round stomach needs to no longer be socially acceptable.
Oh! I thought of another one. I would really like to re-normalize allowing kids to be outdoors and play unsupervised. The way it was when our parents were kids and we were kids but somehow there's been this annoying weird swing and people clutch their pearls or interrogate (or even call the cops) on kids for walking somewhere (or sitting in a car for a few minutes on a temperate day) untroubled without an adult. Obviously I'm not talking about babies or toddlers.
This is why I love my neighborhood. Kids routinely play outside unsupervised starting around age 7 or 8. Most kids (including my 8yo) have some kind of cellular watch like Gizmo so parents can stay in touch and track them. As long as they stay out of trouble, there’s no pearl-clutching or interrogation.