Students: Vocational classes are better

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Santa Fe High student Xavier Vigil never had big dreams of college, but he contemplated it from time to time.

When his mom died in February, he stopped thinking about college altogether and followed her advice.

"My mom told me to follow my dreams and to be happy in my life," he said. "Right now, I feel like college is not for me."

That doesn't mean he plans to wander aimlessly after high school.

Vigil is enrolled in his school's welding program, and he has discovered a knack for art. He makes metal sculptures, and credits the welding class with keeping him engaged in high school.

"I feel like it's more beneficial to me to learn welding and go to college later," he said. "I would be really bored at school without this class. It makes me look forward to coming to school."

Raul Rodgriquez, 15, said it's his two auto courses that keep him coming to school. He works in his father's auto shop and has never been interested in anything but cars.

Vigil and Rodriguez exemplify one point of view not touted by many educators these days: that having some students focus on a vocational track in high school, with no immediate plans for college, is OK.

Santa Fe Public Schools acknowledges and encourages students who, like Vigil and Rodriguez, do not immediately want to go to college after high school.

The district provides three tracks for high school students, depending on whether a student plans to: attend a "selective" college such as private institutions with stringent admission standards; attend a "major college (or) university" such as a state university; or pursue a technical career, community college or the military. Recommended courses vary, depending on which track a student chooses.

The welding program, like the rest of the school, has a mostly Hispanic population. By providing career training, the program aims to keep students interested in high school so they don't drop out one of a variety of approaches to chip away at the state's persistent achievement gap.

According to the most recent state data, 63 percent of Hispanic students in New Mexico graduate, compared with 74.5 percent of Anglos.

Welding teacher Al Trujillo said offering hands-on training is an important tool in keeping Hispanic students in school.

"Here, they learn a skill and their education becomes more valuable to them," he said. "Without something like this, they may end up having a low-paying, low-skilled job."

One longtime educator who has worked on Hispanic education issues acknowledges the value of vocational education as long as teachers don't have lower expectations for Hispanic students than Anglos.

Moises Venegas, founder of the Quinto Sol research group, said those expectations lead Hispanic students to take career paths toward lower-paying jobs than the professions Anglo students might seek.

"I think it's not as hard-nosed as they used to do it, and it's more subtle," Venegas said. "They no longer say, 'You are not fit for college so you will take these types of courses.' But there are lower expectations for Hispanic students."

At Santa Fe High, students who want to attend college are told they should take a language and science all four years, and they are told to take at least some AP courses. Those interested in a "selective college" are told all their courses should be AP.

Students who are pursuing a career in the military or a tech college are told to take a "workplace readiness" course, but they are not encouraged to take any AP classes and they take fewer language and science classes.

However, those are merely suggestions and students can take more rigorous classes if they choose.

Albuquerque Public Schools does not offer separate tracks for its students. Everyone is expected to have a certain set of skills when they graduate, said Linda Sink, the district's chief academic officer.

"It's old-fashioned to take a kid and prepare them not to go to college and take another and prepare them to go to college," she said. "We don't do that anymore."

APS does offer career and technical courses at most high schools. For example, Atrisco Heritage has a strong focus on the law and public safety, while also offering a film and technology program. Valley has a culinary arts and food services program and computer-aided drafting courses, as well as more traditional programs like wood and metals. Also, there are several charter schools that offer career training.

But, "We want every kid to have the ability to go to college when they graduate," Sink said. "No matter what path they choose, they should still have the credentials and skills to go to college. That's the goal."

The state education department has a similar philosophy. This year, the state enacted more rigorous graduation requirements, saying all students must take four years of math and enroll in at least one AP or honors course or one class that allows them to earn college credit while in high school.

The department believes that every student who graduates should