[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1062-E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           THE BENEFITS OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask 
Americans to give our children a choice of educational opportunities. I 
am a strong supporter of college education, but our children should 
have a wider range of post-high school educational choices in addition 
to college education. We should include the trade and technical school 
education as one of our national education priorities.
  With the growth of technology and our commitment to international 
commerce trade and technical training education is vital to our 
society. This type of specific vocational/technical education is 
indispensable to the expansion of career opportunities in the United 
States. While college and post-graduate programs are appropriate 
avenues for many students, many other students would benefit greatly 
from the opportunity to orient their education toward acquiring 
specialized technical or trade skills (e.g., electrician, computer 
programming and repair, graphic arts). Technical and vocational careers 
are just as important--and in some instances vital--to the welfare of 
our society as are professional, white-collar careers. Technical and 
vocational careers pay well.
  I urge all of us to recognize the need for technical education in 
high school curricula and for more colleges to have courses of study 
related to technological and trade school career choice. Our education 
agenda should include vocational education as an alternative to high 
school students.

[[Page E1063]]

  I believe that three points need to be implemented in order for 
students to receive this opportunity:
  First, encouraging schools to build partnerships with the private 
sector in order to prepare trade school-oriented students for 
alternative career opportunities. The formation of school to job co-ops 
is beneficial because it will allow students to incorporate their 
technical training with real work experience.
  Second, the name vocational should be replaced by a more positive 
name in order to dispel the negativity usually associated with 
vocational education (e.g., technological/trade education). Vocational 
education is technical/trade education which focuses on the development 
of specific hands-on skills.
  Third, creating a positive awareness within the general public and 
among educators of technology and trade education. Our society needs to 
recognize trade education as a necessary component of our educational 
system.
  In closing, I urge all of my colleagues to consider trade and 
technological education as a priority in our national education agenda. 
Our children need this choice, because only by giving them these 
opportunities will they be able to empower themselves.

                          ____________________