Introducing Opportunity with CTE in Middle School
Mike Schloff, Founder of Maplewoodshop
As many college age students will explain, when they reach their later years of high school, teachers, advisors, and counselors begin introducing them to possible career paths. This type of preparation serves as an introduction to the typical four-year college experience, which seems to be the mainstream expectation for planning after high school. The issue with this limited approach to career prep is that it gives students a narrow view of the opportunities that lie ahead of them, which is an injustice to students, as well as a variety of industries.
All students deserve to be exposed to possible careers at a young age. If they are only given that guidance just before graduating high school, their understanding of their own potential stays far below what they deserve. That is why my mission is to introduce Career and Technical Education to middle school students, while they still have years to discover their interests and skills. CTE opens up pathways that standard college and career preparation does not.
As many experts in the trades will explain, if students are not introduced to CTE curriculum until they are preparing for college, it might already be too late for them to legitimately consider all the career paths available to them. Middle school, which already marks a turning point in the educational experience of students, proves to be the optimal moment for CTE to be integrated into schools’ academic offerings. This gives them several years to explore more hands-on projects, collaborate with their peers, and of course discover new skills and interests. By the time these students are preparing to graduate high school, we give them the opportunity to consider alternatives to four-year colleges, such as trade schools.
Working in trades such as carpentry creates meaningful and lucrative careers. Just as children will discover if they have the opportunity to practice woodworking in middle school, these subjects are engaging, productive, and yield results that will most often have an impact on individuals or even an entire community. Plus, aside from the career itself, the means of achieving that career have different financial implications than careers that require a four year degree. As college tuition grows more expensive over time, trade schools continue to be a realistic goal at a far lower cost. I strive to make woodworking an option for all communities, but areas with lower incomes could arguably benefit from it the most. The way it empowers students to learn new curriculum is powerful enough, but combined with the opportunity to pursue affordable careers with excellent pay, supports equity in ways that much other coursework does not.
It is so important that we introduce all students to CTE when they are at a young age; the opportunity to discover themselves and their futures is an investment worth making. In middle school, courses like woodworking are a fun, unique alternative to traditional academic courses like math or history. Students might even become so invested they will continue to explore how they can go on to build a life out of it.
At Maplewoodshop, we bring woodworking into middle schools in an exciting effort to make CTE available to students from all backgrounds. Students deserve opportunities like this, and those that have worked with our safe and engaging programs love the chance they are given. As we grow, I look forward to hearing their stories build as they enter their high school and professional careers.
If you are interested in promoting CTE at your school, please visit our website or chat with us today!