The Gadfly Praises Oklahoma's Vo-Tech System
Forty years ago, I was privileged to be a small part of then-Governor Dewey F. Bartlett's emphasis on Oklahoma's system of vocational-technical education as a means of providing trained, skilled workers. Like Governor Henry Bellmon before him, Bartlett recognized the value of training some students for the workplace upon high school graduation and I recall in detail the many meetings I attended with Governor Bartlett, Dr. Francis Tuttle, Jay Casey and Jim Trickett as ideas for the system's expansion were discussed. Elected in 1966, Bartlett committed himself to becoming Oklahoma’s “job-gettingest” governor ever and resolved to make the vocational education system a major force in his crusade for economic expansion.
Now, all these years later, I have witnessed the second vo-tech success story in my own family.
A few years back, resident grandson Michael enrolled in an automotive repair course at the Mid-Del Technology Center in Midwest City while he was a Carl Albert High School student. With his training and through the center's contacts, Michael applied for a part time job as a mechanic at Tinker Air Force Base. He was successful and upon graduation, was given a full time job as a fuel systems specialist on the Air Force's big birds at Tinker. A few months shy of his 18th birthday, Michael had a solid, well-paying job. He's since continued his education, earning his associate's degree from Rose State College.
Last night, we family members witnessed the Mid-Del Technology Center graduation ceremony that included 19-year-old granddaughter Faye, a graduate of the center's health careers certification program. Faye's been a student at the center for two years while attending Del City High School. Within the past year, her training and the center's contacts paid off with a job offer from one of the top nursing homes in Midwest City, where she now works as a certified nursing assistant. She seems well on her way to a health care career.
While it is likely these two bright young people would have landed on their feet without their vo-tech training, it surely would have taken them longer to do so, and the job offerings might not have been the quality of those they landed. Thanks to their training, and the excellent reputation the Mid-Del Technology Center has earned as a career program developer, they moved from high school to the workplace without missing a beat.
A tip of my hat today to the vision of Dewey Bartlett and Francis Tuttle, to the state's vo-tech system in general, to the Mid-Del Technology Center in particular and to the thousands of young Oklahomans who have benefited from the training they received, their lives enriched by the opportunity.
Now, all these years later, I have witnessed the second vo-tech success story in my own family.
A few years back, resident grandson Michael enrolled in an automotive repair course at the Mid-Del Technology Center in Midwest City while he was a Carl Albert High School student. With his training and through the center's contacts, Michael applied for a part time job as a mechanic at Tinker Air Force Base. He was successful and upon graduation, was given a full time job as a fuel systems specialist on the Air Force's big birds at Tinker. A few months shy of his 18th birthday, Michael had a solid, well-paying job. He's since continued his education, earning his associate's degree from Rose State College.
Last night, we family members witnessed the Mid-Del Technology Center graduation ceremony that included 19-year-old granddaughter Faye, a graduate of the center's health careers certification program. Faye's been a student at the center for two years while attending Del City High School. Within the past year, her training and the center's contacts paid off with a job offer from one of the top nursing homes in Midwest City, where she now works as a certified nursing assistant. She seems well on her way to a health care career.
While it is likely these two bright young people would have landed on their feet without their vo-tech training, it surely would have taken them longer to do so, and the job offerings might not have been the quality of those they landed. Thanks to their training, and the excellent reputation the Mid-Del Technology Center has earned as a career program developer, they moved from high school to the workplace without missing a beat.
A tip of my hat today to the vision of Dewey Bartlett and Francis Tuttle, to the state's vo-tech system in general, to the Mid-Del Technology Center in particular and to the thousands of young Oklahomans who have benefited from the training they received, their lives enriched by the opportunity.
Labels: Dewey F. Bartlett, Dr. Francis Tuttle, Gadfly's Columns, Jay Casey, Jim Trickett
posted by Mike McCarville @ 7:05 AM
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