BLACKS URGED TO CONSIDER VO-TECH

Black students who for decades have been steering clear of vocational education may want to take a second look.

"Historically, vocational education has had a negative connotation to many African-Americans," said Dorothy Hardy, who coordinates the Single Parent Program at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School.

"The attitude persists today. The fact that black students have been misadvised over the years caused black parents, ministers and community leaders to become suspect of vocational education. They saw vocational education as a dumping ground for black students," added Hardy.

She has 20 years of experience in education administration with a PhD in counseling with minors in vocational education and psychology.

Hardy believes the pendulum is swinging back toward vocational education for purely economic reasons. Employees with trade skills often make higher salaries than those with college degrees.

"Graduates of programs in maintenance and repair, such as refrigeration and air conditioning, auto body, auto technology, as well as programs in welding and food service, can earn average entry level salaries from $19,000-$25,000 -- about the same as a beginning school teacher," Hardy said.

The Vocational-Technical School is using American Vocational Education Week to call attention to some of its programs.

"In the past, black students in high schools across this country were routinely tracked into shop courses," she said.

"Some school officials acted on their beliefs that black student were unable to make it successfully in college preparatory courses," said Hardy. "Others probably thought they were being practical by advising black students into vocational areas such as auto body repair, food service, machine tool trades and home economics where they were more likely to find employment upon graduation.

"It's worth noting that other students deemed to have low academic potential were also guided into the trades."

Simon Perkins, pastor at St. James AME Church, remembers those days.

"Black students primarily were enrolled in industrial arts and home economics," Perkins said. "(School officials) were under the persuasion that black students didn't not have ability to become business managers or accountants."

He added that during those years schools were segregated.

"The curriculums were different. Most white schools had pre-college classes," Perkins said. "I remember when my school added the first pre-college program. A lot of people felt it was wrong, that we couldn't do anything but go into auto mechanics or food service. I came out of that school and earned a PhD.

"Ironically I push heavily for auto mechanics now because they are making $40 an hour. We have developed a significant, sophisticated engine for automobiles, airplanes, space shuttles. Someone must be trained to service those engines and it takes high-tech training."

Propelled by the civil rights movement of the 1960s, more minority students enrolled in college and steered away from vocational schools.

Hardy said, "Spurred by the Black Power movement, black parents, community leaders, ministers and politicians fought for greater opportunities for blacks in college and universities. Going to college also had more social prestige than going to the local vocational school. Some of this elitism among the public continues.

"Everyone who wants to and can should have the opportunity to further his or her education. Everyone, however, is not prepared for the rigors of studying for a four-year college degree," said Hardy.

Calvin Bird, director of the Cape Civic Center, graduated from high school in 1984.

"Personally when I came out of high school in 1984, to go to vo-tech was more a cop out than going to college," Bird said. "Now, looking back, I see the advantages of vocational training."

In fact, he recently encouraged his younger brother to enroll in a certified nurse assistant program at the vocational school.

"I explored it for him and saw a very, very good opportunity," Bird said. "In my line of work, I deal with a lot of kids who don't have the motivation or discipline it takes to go college and do well. Vocational school offers something a little different. Perhaps through vocational courses they will develop an increased zeal for learning and may decide to go on to college."

If not, they still have a chance to learn a job skill. He tells the young people he counsels they need to be marketable. "This is a way to become very marketable in a specific field," Bird said.

Hardy said education generally determines average monthly income.

According to 1990 census bureau data, the average monthly income for professionals such as doctors, lawyers and dentists stands at $3,871. For those with a doctorate, it's $3,265; master's degree $2,288; bachelor's $1,841; associate $1,346; vocational: $1,219; some college $1,169; high school degree $1,045; those who didn't finish high school $693.

The fastest growing occupational areas projected for 1990-2005 are in health services, hotel management and recreation, food services, engineering, computers, business services, human resources (personnel), financial services, teaching, maintenance and repair, basic science and arts.

"Notice the high job growth areas relative to programs offered at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational Technical School," Hardy said.

Graduate nurses, after one year and certification, can earn an average entry level salary of $34,400 to $40,800 per year, home health care nurses, $30,000-$37,000, a corporate secretary, $17,500-$21,200; a respiratory therapist, $17,400-$23,900; computer programmer, $19,000-$23,000; data base manager, $33,000-$40,000, and systems analyst, $26,000-$30,000.

"As we look to the future and where the hottest careers are predicted, I say African Americans as well as other students need to include vocational education as one option in career planning," Hardy said.

"Counselors in high schools, university admission advisers and concerned people in the community need to explore the requirements and benefits of a vocational school education and encourage minority students to also consider some of the high paying jobs available to vocational school graduates."