High School Education

 I attended a public high school in a small farming town in northeast Missouri. In the Midwest we had robust vocational schools built into the public high schools which provided much needed training. Many of my classmates were able to graduate knowing a trade and were able to start working immediately.  Classes and career pathways included agriculture, drafting, electronics, automotive, construction trades and animal science.  Many states, including California, do not have vocational training.  I would work to have vocational training available at all public high schools. High school can be a successful springboard to employment and additional education by emphasizing science technology engineering and math (STEM). I also believe that students who would like to participate in even more challenging courses should be offered the opportunity to enroll in nearby colleges. I believe high level academic courses should be available through high schools and should be available for all levels for students of different abilities.  High school education can guarantee success immediately after high school. I have many patients who have graduated from high school and do not know how to read the instructions that I have written down for after surgery and never had an opportunity to learn a trade in a public high school. Our public high schools offer an opportunity to provide individualized training for students to start a productive life with income immediately after.