CTE

Effective with the 2001-2002 school year the Industrial Technology Department (ITD) at Caston was eliminated due to a series of budget cuts that were necessary at that time.

It was explained that the loss of this Department and its classes could be at least partially offset by the opportunities at the Century Career Center (CCC) located in Logansport, IN. However, this is problematic for several reasons.

Caston allows only Juniors and Seniors to attend the CCC. Two reasons are given for this: (1) this is the way it's always been (or at least it seems this way) and (2) to help ensure that a student is on track regarding required courses. As of September 1, 2006 Caston had 9 students attending.

When Caston had its own ITD participation was not limited only to Juniors and Seniors. This is important because there are certain students who are naturally attracted to the opportunities that such a Department can provide and this may be the only area of the school offerings that appeal to them. Every student needs to find their niche. Absent this opportunity it is not beyond the realm of reason that some students become school dropouts, if not literally at least figuratively. A recent study on dropouts says, "Adolescents leave school because they live surrounded by unemployment and poverty, have experienced failure in school, and have been held back at least once, feel terrible about themselves, and see little hope."

It is not being suggested that Caston having its own ITD or sending students to the CCC is an either/or situation. Both have their uniqueness and advantages. However, for some students a Caston ITD would help to retain their interest in school (even 7th and 8th graders could participate) until they are eligible to take classes at the CCC.

Another issue with Caston students participating in the CCC is that they are not provided first-hand insight (i.e. a visit and tour) of the CCC until the spring of their Sophomore year. In my opinion this is unfortunate because by that time required courses for graduation may have become a complicating factor for a student who has not taken his/her studies seriously. I suggest that students have an opportunity to visit and learn about the CCC earlier in their school career, possibly during their eighth grade year. This would give them a better understanding of the opportunities available to them later and they could then make their high school course selection with that in mind. Hopefully, they would also be more conscientious in their course work in anticipation of going to the CCC their Junior year.

In summary, it seems to me that Caston needs to seriously consider: (1) reestablishing its own Industrial Technology Department, (2) providing for students to visit and learn about the Century Career Center, possibly as early as the eighth grade, and (3) students having the opportunity to go to the CCC before their Junior year.

Century Career Center (CCC) (9/28/06)

The CCC has several "schools" or programs which it offers. These are as follows and by clicking on them you will find a list of classes with a description as well as credit information.

School of Advanced Manufacturing
School of Arts & Communication
School of Business & Information Technology
School of Judicial & Global
School of Medical & Allied Health
School of Science & Engineering
School of Special Programs

"The Role of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the American High School: A Student Centered Analysis" (9/28/06) - This article can be accessed in its entirety here. Excerpts are as follows:

The...high school curriculum in general and the role of career and technical education in particular has historically been the subject of some debate. In the l990s this debate was re-invigorated by a number of developments...Of these, the most influential was the widespread belief that a four-year college degree was necessary...A second important factor was educational reforms that emphasized the mastery of academic skills solely, and the related effort by states to assess academic achievement via high stakes tests.
...there are at least six major different CTE program constituencies: (1) business education; (2) trade and industrial education, and health occupations; (3) family and consumer sciences; (4) technology education; (5) agriculture; and (6) marketing/ distributive education.
The national high school completion rate is around 74%...
While college enrollment has risen dramatically, college success has not. The six-year graduation rate at division one universities is just over 50%.
...knowledge learned but not explicitly related to relevant problem solving situations remains mostly inert, meaning the learner is unable to use it for anything practical when the opportunity arises and thus such knowledge quickly disappears.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effect of CTE on reducing high school dropout rates. The most recent...found that taking CTE courses was related to persisting to graduation...the drop-out prevention effect was the most dramatic for those students who were at greatest risk of dropping out when they entered high school; namely, students whose test scores and GPA entering high school were one standard deviation or more below the mean.
...claims that all jobs in the future will require some post-high school education are groundless (the Department of Labor projects that only 29% of all work and 42% of new jobs will require postsecondary vocational degrees or college degrees through 2010)...

"Mission Statement - Caston School Corporation is committed to providing each student with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to function as tomorrow's exceptional citizens. Teachers, administrators, staff, and the at-large community are dedicated to seeing that the students develop to their full academic, vocational, and personal potential in order that they may take pride in themselves, their accomplishments, and their school. It is our goal that each individual at Caston School Corporation will do his/her utmost to teach, assist, counsel, and encourage one another in making our school the best center for a lifetime of learning."
(Policy # 2105)