| All parents have big dreams for their | | | | cutbacks that they are forced into turning |
| children. Fame, fortune, happiness, security, | | | | students away from the education they desire. |
| love, confidence, success, and a good | | | | Many Long Island Schools districts have to |
| education- to name a few. Parents of Long | | | | tell their vocational students that they |
| Island Schools students have dreams like | | | | can't afford to enroll them in BOCES (Board |
| these, too. A lot of these kids are told as | | | | of Cooperative Educational Services) |
| they grow up that college is what you do | | | | job-training courses in the Fall of 2007. |
| after high school, end of discussion. Of | | | | This is happening despite New York's state |
| course, most if not all parents would like to | | | | regulations which entitle teens access to |
| see their kids head off to college. | | | | vocational programs. In fact, state |
| | | | regulations require school districts, |
| But let's look at the big picture; not all | | | | including those serving Long Island Schools |
| graduating seniors want to head off to a 2- | | | | to provide students with up to two years of |
| or 4-year college. They are anxious to enter | | | | BOCES occupational training, free of charge. |
| the workforce, earn a paycheck, and are | | | | Therefore, many of these Long Island Schools |
| heartily sick of homework. Students attending | | | | students are blocked from receiving the |
| Long Island Schools represent both goals - | | | | training they need to begin their chosen |
| both college bound and work bound - but only | | | | profession. |
| one of these groups is truly getting the | | | | |
| education they need to achieve their goals | | | | Long Island Schools officials have voiced |
| after high school. | | | | regret over the situation, but added that |
| | | | they have little choice. Budgets have had to |
| Long Island Schools students are feeling | | | | be trimmed, and the cuts included $720,000 in |
| increasing pressure to attend college or a | | | | BOCES tuition. The most likely reason for |
| university. Rigorous courses are becoming the | | | | these cutbacks is the fact that Long Island |
| norm, and the stress that goes along with the | | | | voters have rejected spending plans twice. |
| homework and studying for these classes is | | | | |
| immense. Long Island Schools students who are | | | | It appears that if the voters who live in the |
| planning on heading off to college pretty | | | | areas which support Long Island Schools do |
| much have to take these types of classes in | | | | not change their minds, hundreds of |
| order to even get accepted in the school of | | | | vocational students attending one of the many |
| their choice. In fact, 88% of Long Island | | | | Long Island Schools will lose out on the |
| Schools graduates enroll in colleges or | | | | education they so deserve. Perhaps, when they |
| universities. | | | | see their fast food restaurants and discount |
| | | | stores flooded with young high school |
| But what about the Long Island Schools | | | | graduates, they'll change their minds. I hope |
| vocational students? Their schools are | | | | so. |
| experiencing such a drastic amount of | | | | |