What Career Tech Options Are There AT BJHS?
On the MCS Website, eleven categories of available Career Tech classes are listed: Medical, Human Services, Engineering, Business, Finance, Computer Science, Building Construction, Air Force JROTC, Co-Op, and more. Next year, students will have more options in the fields of Arts/AV and Additive Manufacturing. You can view the course catalog HERE.
Many of these courses allow you to get industry-standard certifications. For example, if you take Digital Design, you can earn Adobe Photoshop and Premiere certifications, or if you take Construction courses, you can earn NCCER certifications.
These courses also have club components, such as HOSA for the Medical Academy or FBLA for the Business Academy. These clubs have conferences, and students can earn leadership positions at various levels and compete various categories.
Career Tech courses can also culminate in internships, which can give students firsthand knowledge of what it’s like in their field of study.
How Does This Compare With Career Tech Options In Surrounding School Systems?
Some school systems in the area, including Huntsville City Schools, Madison County Schools, and Limestone County Schools have or are getting Career Tech Centers. They have many of the same Career Tech options as Bob Jones High School, along with additional Career Tech Academies such as Cosmetology, Law Enforcement, and Industrial Technology, which are not listed among Career Technical Education in Madison City Schools.
Why Is Career Technical Education Important?
There are multiple ways that Career Technical Education can be important. In some cases, it can serve as a sort of introduction to college classes in that career area. A Career Tech course can help students get used to courses in the realm of the careers they want to go into. It can start building skills they can use as they continue their education, but that is not the only purpose of Career Technical Education. It has the opportunity to prepare student to start careers straight out of high school. In many Career Tech courses, students can earn certifications and develop skills that strengthen their resumes and give them better chances to be hired for better jobs. This applies not only to students who go right to the workforce but also to students who go to college. They can also benefit from these skills and certifications in their area of career interest. Career Tech makes an impact on students’ careers and is an important opportunity for them to be prepared for the rest of their lives.
How Does This Affect Students At BJHS?
In a survey of students at Bob Jones High School, 61.9% said that there was not a career they had an interest in or were planning to go into that does not have preparatory classes available at BJHS. 21.4% said there was, and 16.7% said they did not know.
Despite the majority of surveyed students being satisfied with the career preparation options available to them at Bob Jones High School, Career Tech options are still important. There are still 21.4% who think our school could use more Career Tech options– and that only includes the students surveyed.
There are definitely students who could use these certifications and skills to help them get good jobs, regardless of their post-secondary plans.
