#TXLEGE: Vocational Training should become a higher educational priority

"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

With education set to be a major topic of discussion next session, we've been thinking about smaller-ball ideas to improve the system.

One idea, to which we keep returning, is vocational education.

The problem is well known: Both nationally, and in Texas, we face shortages in all sorts of skilled trades.  These jobs pay well.  There's an economic need.  Why not fill it?!?

So much of the bad blood that currently exists in the education debate surrounds different visions about the proper form of "academic instruction."  Well, guess what?!?  Under the status quo, many students are getting far more "academic instruction" than they need.

Another possible advantage: Right now, what skills training exists in Texas tends to come from community colleges.  By having ISD's take over this responsibility, you could potentially consolidate services between ISD's and community colleges.  Consolidation equals cost savings.  Cost savings should equal property tax relief.

The wild card is the education bureaucracy.  They might very well try to fight.  This is a fight we should welcome.  Unlike many education issues, this is easy for the public to understand and we should dare the educrats to stop us.

Bottom Line: This is a smaller-ball reform that ought to be achievable.  Our economy has the need.  What do we have to lose?!?