Letter to the Editor: Great opportunity
BY John Hopper, Perkins
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
12/12/12 at 3:30 AM
It was extremely satisfying to open my Dec. 3 Tulsa World to see the front page article by Mike Averill, "Youth Out Of Work." Finally, one of our state news media hit upon one of our states' greatest problems facing education and jobs today. (I hope our governor and legislators read it).
Dr. Steve Tiger was certainly "on line" in his remarks. The greatest problem lies with high school students, counselors and parents thinking that there is more prestige in "college" after graduation than looking at the real world of a profession and jobs. They should study where the greatest opportunities are in the future jobs market. Rather than a $40,000 student loan payment after college graduation, there would be a $40,000 job waiting for them with a marketable skill after high school graduation.
Oklahoma is blessed with a system of Career Tech centers pioneered by leaders such as Drs. Francis Tuttle and Joe Lemley along with OSU Tech at Okmulgee. Many states (and countries) are envious of our system and visit our state to copy it. In addition to opportunities for high school students, there is a great opportunity for the unemployed and returning service men and women to achieve a marketable skill.
Send the article to every counselor in the state. The old adage is still true today: "Wise is he who has a skill."
Editor’s note: Hopper is retired superintendent
of Central Tech.
Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to letters@tulsaworld.com.
