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ROPs PROVIDE
ANSWERS
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
By: Ken Manning
10/24/01
Why do I need to know this? Where
am I ever going to use this? As an educator
and a parent I can’t count how many times
I’ve heard these words come out of the mouths
of students. The fact is that students today
not only ask these questions, they react depending
on the answer. In some cases this leads to
lack of interest in class or at it’s worst,
the student simply drops out.
Relevance of information is important
to students in school. And, based upon research,
there is at least one option that appears
to be providing answers. Regional Occupational
Programs (ROPs) allow students to discover
why they are engaged in learning algebra,
civics and science. |
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It exposes them to the real world
of work and partners them with individuals who are
practitioners in their profession. Who better to
explain why science is important than an RN or why
would they doubt the need to know math when they
are working along side an engineer.
In studies done on high school students
on 19 high school campuses in the East San Gabriel
Valley, the University of California at Riverside
concluded that high school students that take an
ROP class are more likely to finish high school,
do better academically, are more apt to go to college,
and when they go to work, are promoted sooner than
students that do not.
Should we be surprised? Not really!
Relevance and high expectations are the rule in
the workplace. Exposure to these realities seems
to open a window of realization for many of our
students who seem out of place in the comprehensive
high school. For years they have felt uncomfortable
in an environment that requires them to listen and
take notes without providing hands-on experience.
ROP classes provide that experience. And, it’s not
only for those who are seemingly, not destined to
go to college.
Many top colleges and universities require
exposure to the profession before they accept a
student. Pre-med students, pre-law students as well
as engineering and architectural programs often
reject applicants because they are unaware of the
expectations their profession requires. And, even
if they are accepted, they are more likely to drop
out because they are naive about the field. Taking
an ROP class as a high school junior or senior can
eliminate a lot of anguish associated with choosing
a profession. I have heard many ROP teaching professionals
take pride in telling me that a student discovered
that the field they thought was their destiny, in
fact, turned out not to be what they were expecting.
Fortunately, in most cases, the teacher-mentor helps
the student uncover new worlds of opportunity. Opportunities
that shape and mold a student to be a productive
and beneficial member of our society.
Testimonials from ROP Alumni reinforce
the contention that Regional Occupational Programs
are the best-kept secret in town. For information
on how to sign up for an ROP course, see your high
school counselor or call the ROP Program in your
area. They will make a difference.
Ken Manning is Deputy Superintendent for the
East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program
& Technical Center and from 1979 to 1999, served
as a member of the Board of Education for the Hacienda
La Puente Unified School District |
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