| Today's high schools focus on being solely a path to | | | | want to be a pediatric nurse. However, is it because |
| college. This is very different from days past. If you | | | | they want to work with children or sick children? If |
| look at the Education Code, the purpose of | | | | they merely want to work with children, being a |
| secondary education is to prepare for college or | | | | teacher or daycare provider might be a better option. |
| work. I feel the educational system has put too | | | | It's a positive thing for someone to understand what |
| much emphasis on getting into college and have | | | | it means to do a particular line of work, and it's okay |
| largely underestimated the life enriching experience of | | | | for them to decide it's not for them. |
| work based education. | | | | Students who complete ROP courses get a |
| ROP is especially relevant today because it helps | | | | certificate showing what skills they've mastered. |
| students learn about careers before they make the | | | | Some programs give them a basic skill set, and they |
| financial and time commitment of college. It gives | | | | can go on to take a community college course. Other |
| them exposure to types of careers they might want | | | | programs work in conjunction with colleges and offer |
| down the road, or might not want. College, on the | | | | college credit. Many students who begin in a ROP |
| other hand, is an expensive and time consuming way | | | | program learn entry level skills that help them make a |
| to tryout and reject options. | | | | living while they are attending college. With federal |
| ROP programs really help people understand why | | | | grants for education in short supply, having |
| they are more attracted to particular career paths | | | | marketable skills is important. |
| than others. For example, a student might initially | | | | |