Apprenticeship by Ian

Apprenticeship by Ian - August 2015 Scholarship Essay

The American high school curriculum should include an apprenticeship subject into its curriculum. There are many high school kids that would really enjoy the opportunity to learn a technical skill that they could use straight out of high school.

Some high school kids can’t afford college after high school, but if they had an opportunity to learn a technical skill such as mechanics or electrical, they would be able to make it in the world without having to go to a secondary school.

Many high school kids get bored easily with sitting in a classroom all day, and that seems like a big reason that many drop out of high school. If there was a curriculum that would teach kids technical skills that could get the kids up moving and helping them to create something by themselves at the same time, it would help them feel like they have accomplished something that is worth staying in school for.

America needs mechanics, plumbers, and electricians. If there was a curriculum or subject that could help get more people into that line of work, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be in the high school system. High school kids are capable of a lot more than what they are given credit for, but people pass over them because they aren’t put in the environments that they would be more successful at. People look at how a kid performs in the classroom, but those same kids may be better off fixing a broken down car, or wiring a house.

The American high school puts too much emphasis on grades, and not enough on individual skills. There should be an apprenticeship subject so that kids that perform average or below in the classroom can still feel like school is worth something if they can learn a skill that will be beneficial in the real world.