Now that Jackson-Reed’s counselors have made their way to each English class to familiarize students with their options following high school, students are left with the question: does Jackson-Reed really support students who do not plan on taking the traditional four-year college route post graduation?
Most classes at JR are in fields requiring some level of postsecondary education to become professional. The majority of academies, such as engineering, biomed, and computer science, require an extensive amount of education following graduation. However, many students simply don’t see themselves in classrooms after high school. What about options that include employment, apprenticeships, and university? Therefore, JR should offer more classes on trades that a person can go into directly after high school.
For example, JR could offer a class on welding to support students who don’t necessarily thrive in a traditional academic setting. Welding is an essential part of many manufacturing industries, such as automotive, aviation, and kitchenware manufacturing. Welding is a skill that will always be required as long as humans are creating large vehicles and buildings. In fact, some extremely skilled welders, whose skills are vital to success in assisting many other professions, can make over six figures with years of experience.
Welders can start a professional career immediately after high school with apprenticeship programs, where beginners can learn how to weld on the job with the guidance of highly experienced craftsmen. Many students have trouble with traditional learning, either from a professor or the textbook; a lot of students learn better from hands-on experience, something that welding offers. Students who choose not to attend college are often judged by society when many successful tradespeople who live comfortable lives start out as teenagers searching for their path.
The ultimate goal of high school is for students to take a variety of classes to figure out what careers they may want to pursue after graduation. Still, many students at JR do not enjoy the more “academic” classes they must take and want something different. If JR had a welding class, some students who were previously unsure about their future might find their passion. In addition to this, students with learning disabilities that do not thrive in traditional learning could be supported. It may only take one 90-minute class to make a student interested in welding and just like that they could finally be excited about a career to pursue graduation. •
