SCHOOL TO WORK PLAN TOPIC OF DISCUSSION

School children across the nation could be choosing their career path by the time the enter junior high school as part of the national School to Work program.

But exactly how the federal program will work in Missouri is not clear, so graduate students at Southeast Missouri State University intend to find out today during a class discussion.

Steve Alexander, assistant director of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will speak to students at 9:30 a.m. today and again at 2 p.m. this afternoon.

The panel discussion will be held in room 307 of the Scully Building. Panel members include Steve Alexander, assistant director for the Missouri Department of Secondary and Elementary Education; Ron Swift, director of the Private Industry Council of Southeast Missouri; Harold Tilley, director of the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School; Ferrell Ervin, member of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education; Dr. Howard Jones, superintendent of Jackson R-2 School District; and Todd Bollinger, superintendent of Dexter schools.

Although it's a federal program, each school district and administrator has different views about School to Work programs, said Dr. George Johnson, a professor of education and counseling who is coordinating the panel discussions.

"We want to get educated with what's going on and what the state has planned," Johnson said, adding that even he needs some lessons on the program.

Alexander heads the statewide School to Work program and will explain what emphasis the state has and how the local programs can be organized, Johnson said. He will also meet with members of the Cape Girardeau West Rotary Club at noon.

School to Work includes trade schools, tech-prep programs and vocational education classes, as well as other academic areas that can train students for future jobs and careers.

"We need to impress the need for technical training and choosing occupations," Johnson said.