Cape Cod’s vocational schools are preparing students for successful careers in high-demand industries by providing a state-of-the-art learning environment with fully-equipped facilities and professional training shops open to the public. The Harwich and Bourne campuses offer various disciplines such as cosmetology, veterinary, automotive, and technology programs. Vocational education plays a significant role in building a skilled workforce and a brighter future for all. Students who graduate from Cape Tech’s vocational schools have endless possibilities, with many earning over $60,000 per year in their first year of work. The schools’ faculties ensure that students receive not only mechanical competence but also character, responsibility, and a readiness to work hard. The Cape Cod Times columnist Lawrence Brown emphasizes that our civilization depends on competence and ethical standards, and it is crucial to ensure that students who graduate from vocational schools can afford to live and contribute to their communities.
Cape’s Vocational Schools: Preparing the Next Generation of Skilled Professionals
Cape Cod is home to two impressive technical school campuses, where students are trained to become the next wave of professionals who know how to fix things, build things, and make them work. Unlike what we called vocational schools in the past, these schools are not for kids who couldn’t do well in academic subjects like science, math, or literature. Instead, they provide a different model that combines academics and professional training. Half of the time is spent on academic subjects, and the other half on practical training.
The two technical schools, known as “Upper Cape Tech” in Bourne and “Cape Tech” in Harwich, are not only full, but they have waitlists of students who want to get into the programs. Students and teachers alike attest to the quality of education they receive. While the two schools have their unique approaches, they share the common goal of providing students with marketable skills.
One aspect that sets these technical schools apart from traditional academic schools is that starting in their junior year, students apprentice with local businesses. They work and get paid above minimum wage while learning from skilled professionals. This approach not only provides students with real-world experience but also helps local businesses stay updated about their professional requirements, ensuring that the schools’ curriculum stays relevant and marketable.
Moreover, many tech kids are not only learning skills that will pay them well in the future, but they are also helping their families make ends meet by putting food on the table and paying rent even before they graduate from school.
However, even with the success of these schools, there are still challenges to overcome. For instance, in two of the disciplines taught at the Harwich school, students are required to take national board exams in Infection Control and in Radiology Health and Safety. These exams cost each student $270, which can be a significant financial burden for some families.
Interested readers can make a profound difference in the lives of these students by offering financial assistance. There are students in these schools who are trying to break the cycle of poverty, become self-sustaining, and support their families. By contacting Brenda Stafford at bstafford@capetech.us, you can help support one of these students in taking the required exams.
In conclusion, Cape Cod’s vocational schools are playing a crucial role in preparing the next generation of skilled professionals. They are providing students with valuable education that combines academics and practical training, helping local businesses stay updated, and supporting families in need. With the help of the community, we can ensure that these schools continue to provide opportunities for students who want to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.
Vocational Education: Preparing Students for Successful Careers
Cape Cod’s vocational schools provide students with valuable education and practical training in various disciplines, preparing them for successful careers in high-demand industries. The Harwich and Bourne campuses offer students a state-of-the-art learning environment, with fully-equipped facilities and professional training shops open to the public.
One such department is the Harwich school of cosmetology, which requires 1,000 hours of professional training for certification. The department is open to the public, with competitive rates, and is also offered at the Bourne campus. Meanwhile, the Harwich automotive training shop is one of the best-equipped in the region, with no professional dealership having a shop as spacious or spotless. Students are trained in various fields, including firefighting, culinary arts, cybersecurity, and dental technology, with a program ranked as good as any in the country.
The Bourne campus includes a fully-equipped veterinary clinic, ensuring that students receive state-of-the-art training to make them job-ready. Work on the buildings and grounds is often performed by paid, supervised students, demonstrating their sense of responsibility and accountability.
One of the remarkable achievements of Cape Tech’s vocational schools is that 99.5% of their graduates leave their schools either employed or enrolled at other institutions for further study. The schools’ faculties understand that industry is looking for not just mechanical competence but character, responsibility, and a readiness to work hard. Thus, ethics, including a work ethic, is fundamental to the whole curriculum.
Considering the national shortage of skilled workers in various fields, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, cybersecurity, and heating and air conditioning technology, students who graduate from Cape Tech’s vocational schools have endless possibilities. Many of them can expect to earn $60,000 or more in their first year of work, with the potential to earn over $100,000 per year as they establish themselves in their respective industries.
As our civilization depends on competence, it is crucial to ensure that students who graduate from vocational schools can afford to live and contribute to their communities. This challenge is particularly important for public policymakers. By investing in vocational education and providing opportunities for students to enter high-demand industries, we can build a skilled workforce and a brighter future for all.
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