Some Long Island Schools Students Just Want to Go to Work

All parents have big dreams for their children. Fame,drastic amount of cutbacks that they are forced into
fortune, happiness, security, love, confidence,turning students away from the education they
success, and a good education- to name a few.desire. Many Long Island Schools districts have to tell
Parents of Long Island Schools students have dreamstheir vocational students that they can't afford to
like these, too. A lot of these kids are told as theyenroll them in BOCES (Board of Cooperative
grow up that college is what you do after highEducational Services) job-training courses in the Fall of
school, end of discussion. Of course, most if not all2007. This is happening despite New York's state
parents would like to see their kids head off toregulations which entitle teens access to vocational
college.programs. In fact, state regulations require school
But let's look at the big picture; not all graduatingdistricts, including those serving Long Island Schools
seniors want to head off to a 2- or 4-year college.to provide students with up to two years of BOCES
They are anxious to enter the workforce, earn aoccupational training, free of charge. Therefore, many
paycheck, and are heartily sick of homework.of these Long Island Schools students are blocked
Students attending Long Island Schools representfrom receiving the training they need to begin their
both goals - both college bound and work bound -chosen profession.
but only one of these groups is truly getting theLong Island Schools officials have voiced regret over
education they need to achieve their goals after highthe situation, but added that they have little choice.
school.Budgets have had to be trimmed, and the cuts
Long Island Schools students are feeling increasingincluded $720,000 in BOCES tuition. The most likely
pressure to attend college or a university. Rigorousreason for these cutbacks is the fact that Long
courses are becoming the norm, and the stress thatIsland voters have rejected spending plans twice.
goes along with the homework and studying forIt appears that if the voters who live in the areas
these classes is immense. Long Island Schoolswhich support Long Island Schools do not change
students who are planning on heading off to collegetheir minds, hundreds of vocational students
pretty much have to take these types of classes inattending one of the many Long Island Schools will
order to even get accepted in the school of theirlose out on the education they so deserve. Perhaps,
choice. In fact, 88% of Long Island Schoolswhen they see their fast food restaurants and
graduates enroll in colleges or universities.discount stores flooded with young high school
But what about the Long Island Schools vocationalgraduates, they'll change their minds. I hope so.
students? Their schools are experiencing such a