The Myriad Benefits of CTE in Middle School
Mike Schloff, Founder of Maplewoodshop
On January 26th, 2022, at Maplewoodshop we hosted a webinar, The Myriad Benefits of career and technical education in Middle School, to discuss the importance of the trades, specifically woodworking, for K-12 students. I was joined by Stephen LaValva, Ed.D., the Superintendent of schools in Spring Lake, New Jersey, to summarize his experience with woodworking and education. Throughout our discussion, Dr. LaValva shared his insight on the importance of CTE in middle schools today, the impact it has, and how the perception of classes like woodworking has shifted over the last thirty years.
“After all those years, no matter what my position was, whether I was in the classroom or whether I was an administrator, I always brought my interest in construction back into the school and into the classrooms.”
After graduating college, Dr. LaValva’s career began in broadcast journalism and eventually transitioned to a career as a Carpenter’s apprentice. Over time, LaValva’s involvement in construction opened new opportunities within his community, primarily for pre-K and elementary teachers who wanted to make construction efforts more accessible to their students. His contributions to the lives and interests of the students allowed him to become a certified elementary school teacher.
Since then, Dr. LaValva has taught k-5 classes. After experience as a graduate student, middle school assistant principal, vice principal and principal, he ultimately became superintendent of schools in Seeger, New Jersey. Through his career, Dr. LaValva maintained that regardless of his position either as an educator or an administrator, that he would always find a way to bring construction into the classroom.
“We need to give all kids a chance to like school. If some kids don't like school because all we are is academically driven, then we're doing them a disservice, and I just don't want those kids to be forgotten.”
In his current role as superintendent in Spring Lake, New Jersey, Dr. LaValva has spent years marrying his two worlds of education and construction. He had always managed to implement trades curriculum into the classes and schools he worked in as there was an awareness that enrollment in trades programs had declined significantly. Ultimately, his doctoral dissertation focused on examining this exact phenomenon.
His findings concluded that the decline in enrollment in trades programs had little to do with a lack of student interest, a societal stigma, or even budgetary restrictions. Instead, the decline was merely due to a gradual disappearance of shop classes in middle schools and high schools.
Trends like this, LaValva says, are the reason many children grow up disliking school. When they are not given the opportunity to discover their own academic and technical interests, and instead are confined to a strictly academic focus, it hinders their ability to develop social-emotional skills, agency, self-confidence, and the ability to collaborate.
“Shame on us if we don't offer kids a chance to work in painting, drawing, acting, singing, athletics, or woodshop. Every one of us is different, and every kid deserves a chance to shine in front of his or her peers.”
In our discussion on the benefits of CTE, Dr. LaValva and I spoke on the topic of middle school, which he identified as the inflection point that is integral for kids’ development. Middle school, “is the perfect age to expose kids to what potential vocations could be.” As they are developing more kinesthetic mind and body ability, their motor skills become refined; they are beginning to think about and explore their future. The resources offered to students at a young age will contribute to their education and career readiness.
Allowing children access to classes such as woodworking is an incredible opportunity for them to develop a sense of agency. For them to learn new technical skills means they learn something new about themselves and gain confidence. As Dr. LeValva says, when students are given a chance to express themselves, “they are excited about coming to school, and they look for their moment to shine. All these things help to build on their social and emotional growth and their overall happiness.”
“We went the wrong way when we started closing our shop classes, and it's time to correct our mistake and go back.”
The myriad benefits of CTE in middle schools can be life changing, and Dr. Lavalva and I encounter them on a daily basis. With Maplewoodshop, many students are drawn to woodworking as it leads to a sense of creativity, confidence, and pride.
As Dr. LaValva emphasizes, “the effect of feeling proud, of feeling engaged and feeling successful, is highly transferable.” Trying something new, failing, succeeding, and improving; these developmental steps are essential for students to discover who they are and who they want to be. All they need is access. Districts and schools can affordably make middle school woodworking available to their students by allowing educators to use existing classrooms with current staff and the right resources.
Visit Maplewoodshop and attend our webinars to learn how we can help to equip students with technical, academic, and employability skills to help shape well-rounded students and future leaders.