Vocational HS’s were a sentence for HS trouble makers. Unruly students were threaten to go there if they didn’t behave. It was the usual progressive education system, where you fired a shot gun hoping that a few pellets would hit the target and there would be some good coming out of it. Not saying that we didn’t have a few motivated hard working trade oriented students, there were some. Especially in the automotive areas, engine repair, rebuilds, and body work. History, Geography, Math, English were still part of the curriculum. However the dealing with the “unruly ones” was still present, and the access to heavy metal tools laying around was not a plus for the instructors who had to tame them. I’m sure today they are a lot more tech oriented than they were in the 50’s through the 80’s, thus opening the door for advance learning. However without the student motivation to do well, it may result in no real change and remain a dumping ground for the unruly ones who make it difficult for those who are there to actually learn. What ever happened to the reform schools for the unruly ones? A uniformed require attendance with former correctional facility guards as instructors would be my vision. (Its OK, I’ve been accused of being far right of Fascist before.)
"Fascist" is not on the right side of the political spectrum.
The high school I attended taught classes in AC/Refrigeration. In Baton Rouge, these people are worth their weight in gold.
I disagree.
I attended a vocational high school during the first half of the 1970s, as did several of my family and peers.
A "B" average was required to be accepted at my school, along with a recorded history of good behavior, attendance and effort. There were no trouble makers allowed or tolerated.
Graduates from my school were known for being well prepared in their respective trade. We made excellent employees and contributors to our communities. Some of us also joined the armed forces and became outstanding Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.