VOA慢速英语--美国部分学生更倾向于职业培训,而非进入大学

Some US Students Choose Career Training over College

One morning in June, A.J. Muir, an 18-year-old high school student from Springfield, Virginia, was taking a test in an empty classroom.

It was not an English or math test. Instead, it was a test that recognized his skills in keeping computer networks safe – a field called cybersecurity. Muir is going to college this autumn. But he possibly could get a good job tomorrow after passing the test.

Muir had prepared for the test by taking classes at Edison Academy. The school is one of the career and technical education (CTE) centers in Fairfax County. Students at the centers take traditional classes such as English and history in addition to technical ones like cybersecurity and information technology.

If President Joe Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure¹ plan is approved by the U.S. Congress, there will be a strong demand for CTE students like Muir. Companies will need people who know how to work with metal and electricity. They will need workers to build parts for roads, bridges and places to charge batteries of electric cars.

The skills gap

A 2017 report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce² showed that there are 30 million jobs in the U.S. paying $55,000 per year that do not require a college degree. The jobs require the kind of education that comes from the CTE classes.

Right now, there are not enough adults in the U.S. who know how to do those jobs. And workers holding the jobs are getting close to the end of their careers. A 2019 publication from the U.S. Department of Education noted³ nearly 80 percent of public high school students take at least one CTE class. But after that one class, many students do not continue.

The consulting firm Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute called it a "skills gap" in the U.S. economy in their May report.

Joseph Wolfe teaches electrical work, construction and engineering at Edison Academy. Most students who take his classes do not go straight to college.

"We're not anti-college. We just provide an alternate⁴ path to a traditional college route."

People who want to work as electricians⁵ need up to four years of training to get started. But the students who leave Wolfe's class are already one year ahead. They can work and study their trade at the same time.

Wolfe added that some of his former students with more experience earn close to $100,000 per year.

History of career training

The U.S. government started paying for career and technical training as early as 1917. It is sometimes called vocational⁶ training. In those days, students learned to work with wood and metal and were able to get well-paying jobs without going to college.

Over time, students were told that a good future required a four-year college degree. In many cases, that is still true. But Muir is part of a new group of American students who are hearing a different message.

"College is great, but it comes at a cost."

A four-year degree from a private university in the U.S. can easily cost over $100,000. At the end of the four years, students may have more knowledge, but they are not necessarily ready to join the workforce.

Spending less money, students can learn about information technology, nursing, or cybersecurity at community colleges. They can also learn to fix vehicles or cook in a restaurant. However, it might take them one or two years to gain the skills Muir and other students learned in high school.

Other countries have similar training programs for young people. And some may be better prepared for economic changes than the U.S.

A 2018 report by World Education News and Reviews said Germany had over 1 million students enrolled⁷ in career training classes in 2017. About half of all workers in Germany in 2016 had some kind of career training. And German people see this kind of training as a common path to success.

Pandemic challenges

Teachers and administrators⁹ at CTE schools are now working to promote job training to students and their parents. They said it helps both students who want more out of high school and those who struggle in traditional classes.

Monica Bentley is the administrator⁸ for Edison Academy. She started her job in 2020.

"I'm actually just blown away with how many students ... even during a pandemic, have received certifications," she said. "I'm really looking forward to next year when I can see it in full force."

Words in This Story

infrastructure - n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

construction- n. the business of building things (such as houses or roads)

alternate –adj. other than the usual

route- n. a way of achieving or doing something

vocational- n. relating to the special skills, training, etc., that you need for a particular job or occupation

nursing- n. the job of taking care of people who are sick, injured, or old

promote- v. to make people aware of (something, such as a new product) through advertising¹⁰ : to make (something) more popular, well-known, etc.

blow away- v. to impress (someone) in a very strong and favorable way

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 alternate   

adj.交替的，间隔的；v.（使）轮流　　

参考例句：

• He and I clean our room on alternate days.我和他隔日轮流打扫我们的房间。
• That was a week of alternate rain and sunshine.那是晴雨天交替的一周。

5 electricians   

n.电工，电气专家( electrician的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These women electricians really know their job. 这些女电工真能干。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The electricians have performed wonders in recording these long dead voices from old wax onto modern plastic surfaces. 电气技师们很出色地把这些早已失传的声音从老唱片中转录到现代的塑料薄膜唱片上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 vocational   

adj.职业的，业务的

参考例句：

• They have set a regular time for vocational study.他们把业务学习时间固定下来。
• She was given some quick training at the vocational school.她在职业学校受过速成训练。

7 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

9 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

10 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。