Overheard at voc/tech high school open house

We don't publish much about our older tween now that he's all thirteenish, and super cool, and not eager to write for MSM anymore... but we love to share what's new and shiny, so here's a fun post about our visit to our local regional technical high school. Open houses are not only informative, but a great conversation starter with your tween on what he or she is interested in - subjects liked/hated, what s/he is passionate about. After these funny quotes we overheard (or created), I'll tell you more from a mom's perspective.

At Open House at our regional Voc/Tech High School last night, we had many informative exchanges with trained professionals, and some that were ripe for humor.  Here are a few:

Quote of the evening #1: Teacher: You can call me (first name); (to student) you can call me Ms. (last name). Me: It's good to set boundaries. Her: Yes, I love boundaries! Me, barely audible: So does Mexico.

Quote #2, Dental program, teacher: "Now, can anyone guess what kind of careers you can go into after finishing our Dental Assistants Program?" (We fight mutual inappropriate outburst of laughter.) (Possible answers: Oh! I know this one! Journalism! No, Library Science! Animal Husbandry!)

Quote #3, Plumbing Program, from parent: "So can a student join the union right out of high school after finishing this program?" Yipes. No AP for that kid.

Quote #4, Engineering Program: "So one of our graduates is now a runner at West Point..." Me, feeling "participatory": "What's a runner?" (thinking it was an engineering job title) Teacher: Uh, someone who runs long distances on a team... (Face slap) (Note: I hate science, but I gotta admit that the engineering program was really cool... NASA, MIT, local companies all mentor these kids - 100 percent job placement after college. Woot for job placements!)

Quote #5, Electrical Program: "Safety is our primary concern. And no, they don't work on live circuits, everything is checked before it goes live. Well, except the smaller projects (mumbling about metering or something)... but most everything is not live."

Quote #6, Culinary Program: "Finally, snacks. Look, cookies and cider!" Boys devour homemade baked goods outside the in-school restaurant, like Cookie Monsters, while tour continued inside.

Today's Voc/Tech schools are so different than "back in the day".

Here's my honest take: the jungle of Voc/Tech schools has changed. They are now tougher to get in, require students to juggle a week of career programming AND academic programming (yes, the kids take and pass standardized tests too) - making it tougher for the cream to rise up... and that's a good thing. For kids seeking real world experience, real world juggling, and earning real professional hours in their chosen field before advanced training/college (and most DO go to four-year college), today's voc/tech high schools are challenging and worth a look. Yes, they still offer auto shop, plumbing, cosmetology, and early childhood ed classes, but they also are training tomorrow's scientists, environmentalists, engineers, architects, designers, computer information specialists, and even legal/protective service professionals. I'm also intrigued that they offer a tremendous support system for students who need extra help... and truly fabulous job placement records. 

Despite our nervous attempts at humor (our monkeys know we try to make everything fun, even open houses and orthodontic visits), we did learn a lot about our regional high school. Now if we could only learn how to accept that our tween will soon be a freshman in high school... I know I am knee-deep in denial sauce.  

For now, we'll enjoy every moment together as mom and tween - even if it means asking silly questions at an Open House.

Quote #7, afterward: Me: "Glad you went?" Him: "I guess. That was pretty cool. And I like that I'll meet more kids from 11 different towns, and they have a football team. And I don't have to take a foreign language."