Whoa, signs, signs.Everywhere a sign.Blockin' out the scen'ry.Breakin' my mind.Do this. Don't do that.Can't you read the signs? The lyrics to that song from the 70’s goes through my mind these days as I see all of these political signs across the landscape. Everywhere you turn there are signs. Big ones, little ones, red ones, blue ones, bright green and some with pictures are popping up faster than weeds. Years ago when I worked in an ad agency, we just thrived on election years. It meant fast and furious work trying to get each and every political hopeful just the right design for his or her campaign. It was tough trying to make sure each one was different and eye catching and would get the message across. One political race I am watching with interest is the Superintendent of Education for Calhoun County. I chose to homeschool my daughters. My oldest decided she wanted to go to BHS last year and I am proud to say I was a pretty good teacher and she was a great student because she made the transition well is now a rising senior and university bound in ‘08. I home schooled for several reasons and most of those reasons had to do with curriculum. There needs to be much higher standards for our students so that they can be fully prepared for colleges and universities. I dare say that if Rip Van Winkle woke up today he would see that there really hasn’t been too much in change in the Mississippi curriculum over the years. Oh, there are new updated textbooks every so often, but are there enough for all the students? Is what they are learning actually going to help them make a high score on the college entrance exams or just look good on paper so it looks like no child is left behind? Are they all going to have to take remedial classes that first year of college or can they jump in with both feet and make the grade? Not all students are college or university material. There are many that just don’t want to or can’t go on to college. They want or need to get out into the world and get a job. So for those kids, Calhoun County needs a Vocational High School. I think one of the shining examples of a great Vocational High School is at Houston. Those kids have built a solar car and they have won the Dell Solar Car Challenge race years in a row. They are committed and invested to that program. I wonder what those students have gone on and done with their educational lives after they graduated from Houston High? My family and I drove over to Houston last week to see the solar cars as they came through Houston on their race to New York state. It was amazing to see that there are four Mississippi schools competing this year. We watched those kids as they got those cars ready and positioned in the sunlight to recharge the batteries. They were very professional and scientific and you could tell they knew their stuff. The support of the community was evident also. A Vocational High School in Calhoun County is something that we need to support. Students need the option of going to school to learn a trade or going to school to prepare for college. How on earth do you think they would ever compete for a good paying job in the coming Toyota plant? Have you tried to find a plumber lately? How about an electrician? Or a good mechanic? A good vocational program can teach the basics for so many professions. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, appliance repair, automotive…..there are so many areas in which kids could get hands-on training so that they could actually be qualified for a job at graduation. The drop out rate would decrease. I urge everyone to talk at length with the candidates and find out where they stand. Then get out and vote on August the 7th. One vote can make the difference for the educational future of our children.
