<p>“You need to widen your focus, Jarjar. MANY high schools in the US have vocational programs ALONG with the traditional curriculum. I live in Michigan, and my local high school has an amazing auto shop program, along with great programs in the culinary arts, welding, and child care, among others. Students in these programs also take a full complement of English, math, science, etc - they have to fulfill the same graduation requirements as their “academic” colleagues.”</p>
<p>My kids’ high school offers similar programs. As for other people looking down their nose at it, who cares? It’s not their life to live. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, some kids who could really do well in and benefit from vo-tech classes don’t/won’t take them for various reasons. In our area, vo-tech schools are half-day countywide programs coordinated with half-days at local high schools. At our high school, there are few that take the vo-tech route, and they are unfortunately but usually those who can’t handle academic work. However, kids who do vo-tech can’t fulfill all NCAA requirements, so my talented athlete son, who is hoping to play D1 football, struggles with college prep English, algebra, chemistry, and French when he would undoubtedly excel at masonry, carpentry, HVAC, or culinary programs. </p>
<p>kid… there comes a time when priorities have to be considered. One can’t do everything. Scenario- your son gets accepted to a D1 school and makes the football team. How will he survive academically? There will be more of the same types of courses at a faster pace. Is he truly that good that he will be successful as a college athlete while doing college work? Would he be happier doing hands on HS classes instead of college prep ones and enjoy a career in a field he actively enjoys? We need good, talented people in so many fields other than college based ones. When does he stop struggling and do what he enjoys? How many years of his life must he sacrifice? </p>
<p>btw- he needs those math skills to do most jobs so he should master algebra.</p>
<p>^Actually, some D1 schools have very extensive tutoring programs for their athletes. And many majors (such as physical education) don’t require more than 1 math course. I agree that it is very possible that he will also struggle in college, and I doubt that he will graduate with a 4-year degree, but he wants to try (dreams of the NFL). He can go back and take a vocational course at community college or get a trade apprenticeship if football doesn’t pan out as a career.</p>
<p>So son spends the next 5-10 years being miserable because he is struggling with academics plus football. Is he such a football superstar he would get into a D1 school’s program? Does he do well enough in HS to be academically eligible for his team? Can he handle the learning required to be a college football player- it requires a lot more than just following the coach’s orders. Perhaps he should do the exploring and determine if it is worth it to him to go through the requirements. Does he have any interests besides football? It is nice to have dreams but one also needs a reality check- he needs to realize what is involved and his chances of reaching his dream now. Where will he be when he is 30 and never made it in football, has no college degree and no trade skills? </p>
<p>I highly recommend a discussion of what he wants along with football. Even successful pros have to plan for a life outside of the sport. What other interests he reveals will help you and he decide which route makes most sense for him. He may realize he either needs to learn how to study college entry material or decide on a more enjoyable life in HS.</p>
<p>Our top-200 Newsweek ranked HS with numerous NMSFs is economically diverse. Career and trade course offerings include construction, culinary arts, accounting, computer business software, kinesiology, sports medicine, and video production. And “virtual enterprise” so I guess entrepreneurship. Pre-nursing, auto mechanics, marketing, and other things are available at other schools in the district and through the county Regional Occupation Program. Dual-enrollment classes in other trades are also available, though I don’t know how old you’d need to be to take marine welding.</p>
<p>@wis75 Yes, football is the love and focus of his life. Unless he is seriously injured, he definitely will be recruited by D1 schools next year (he can’t be officially recruited yet as a HS sophomore, though multiple schools have shown interest). His coach says he works harder at his sport than anyone else he has ever coached, so he definitely has determination as well as talent. And he certainly isn’t miserable in any way. He has always made good enough grades to continue playing his sports. However, he does have other plans in case he can’t play football professionally. He has many other strengths, including a charismatic personality, leadership skills, and excellent rapport with peers, adults, and young kids (think huge fan club). He just isn’t strong academically. As I mentioned previously, he will probably go to community college for a technical program or get a trade apprenticeship if football doesn’t work out. He certainly won’t be waiting until he’s 30 to start on Plan B.</p>
<p>So- he’s not that bad academically as it seemed earlier. Be sure he gets the learning how to study skills while still in HS. The better his academic background is going into college the less he will have to divert his attention from sports to survive academically. Just saw a Sunday paper article about how 215 out of 100,000 HS seniors playing football will make it to the pros. That’s a very small fraction. And a 4 year NFL career is typical.</p>
<p>@kidzncatz Hopefully for his own safety, he won’t go to the pros. The money is fantastic obviously, but there’s a high chance (1 out of 3) he’ll end up with a mental illness like dementia. </p>
<p>@Jarjarbinks23 ^I agree. I’m worried about not only head injuries, but musculoskeletal and spinal injuries. I would much prefer that he not go pro and have been encouraging him to think more about Plan B options. The odds are so stacked against him making it to the pros anyway, and I’d much rather that he not be involved in that lifestyle. Of course, he accuses me of not supporting him and of dashing his dreams!</p>
<p>@kidzncatz thats being a good parent IMO at least you’re telling your kid the dangers of his dreams instead of blindly telling him that he should do anything that makes him happy</p>
at least you’re telling your kid the dangers of his dreams instead of blindly telling him that he should do anything that makes him happy</p>