23400 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS September 9, 1988 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS TRIBUTE TO OHIO'S GREAT others-Diamond Oaks, Laurel Oaks and tling a diesel engine. They look up. One of OAKS VOCATIONAL EDUCA- Live Oaks-and here they practice vocation­ them, who seems to be in charge, says TION PROGRAM al education with a vengeance. "Good morning" and they all return to Jail. The awful dark, sooty place of old work. "That's the foreman for the day," ex­ brick with greasy antiquated machines and plains Tom Wyatt, the Scarlet Oaks princi­ HON. BOB McEWEN dank halls. That has long been the image of pal. "They take turns. It's important that OF OHIO the trade school. "If you don't shape up," they know from the start what it's like. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the mythological schoolmaster's voice in­ They won't be foremen right away once tones, "you're going to go to... .'' Right. Friday, September 9, 1988 they're out in the real world, but they'll do The vocational school. The place for dead­ better work if they know what a foreman's Mr. McEWEN. Mr. Speaker, vocational edu­ enders. problems are firsthand.'' cation has a rich heritage in our Nation, and There has been an opposite way of think­ Wyatt goes on to explain that the school ing about vocational education, of course. we are proud of the many achievements and During the Lincoln Administration, the receives many visitors, often people from accomplishments of Ohio's vocational educa­ United States Government made a powerful local business and industry. "There are two tion program. commitment to the idea, establishing the things about that," he says. "When these In the May 1988 issue of the Smithsonian land-grant colleges-the A & Ms <for agri­ kids are out of school, there are going to be magazine, Ohio's Great Oaks vocational cultural and mechanical>. It was evident plenty of distractions wherever they are system was recognized for its unique program then that for the country to succeed, it working. We want them to get used to would need a lot of people with a working people coming and going. That's why all and impressive education record. Under the these learning areas and labs are wide open. able leadership of Great Oaks District superin­ understanding of new technologies. And there has long been a federal role as well as And also, we keep telling them that any tendent, Dr. Harold Carr, the students and a state and local one in providing technical stranger walking around here might be a teachers of this school system have compiled education for those who seemed destined to future employer. You don't want to be goof­ an exemplary record of success. Great Oaks go into trades rather than completing an ing off if the guy standing there might see attracts dedicated instructors, and motivates academic high school or college career. Nev­ you next across an employment desk.'' and encourages their students to use their in­ ertheless, vocational education has general­ THE VISITOR HIRED A STUDENT ON THE SPOT dividual gifts and talents to their maximum po­ ly taken a backseat in education budgets and in the dreams of parents for upwardly On one occasion, Wyatt says, a General tential. Motors dealer walked through and stopped Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to share this mobile offspring. "In some parts of the academy," said Wil­ to watch an auto-repair class for a while. article with my colleagues in the Congress be­ liam Bennett, U.S. Secretary of Education, Then he picked out one student, a senior, cause it vividly illustrates the benefits afforded to the members of the American Vocational hired him on the spot, and spent $10,000 of by Great Oaks Vocational Education to stu­ Association in 1985, "there is sometimes his company's money to send him off for ad­ dents and communities throughout Ohio. condescension, sometimes a patronizing atti­ vanced training in computer diagnostics. THERE'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT WHERE tude, toward those who know how to do That, one realizes, is the subtle mind con­ TEENS LEARN A TRADE-OHIO'S GREAT OAKS things." But not at Great Oaks. Here's trol at work. VOCATIONAL SYSTEM HAS COME UP WITH AN Angie again, a year and a half into studying Outside the cafeteria, on an easel, is a ASTUTE MIXTURE OF ACADEMICS, TRAINING business management and marketing: "I de­ large, red sign announcing the "Emperor of AND PERSONAL SUPPORT-AND IT WORKS. cided to buy a new car. So I went down to the Month.'' It is the Bonnie Lynn Bakery, <By Jake Page) the lot and told the salesman, 'Look, I've and a few people have been asked to sit learned all the tricks and gimmicks you're down for lunch to honor Bob Larson, the Listen for a minute to Angie Smith. going to use on me. I learned them at my She spoke with me just before graduating small chain's founder and president. school, so don't bother. I want that car over Preluncheon introductions are made by a last year from the Scarlet Oaks School in there and this is what I'm going to pay you Sharonville, Ohio, north of Cincinnati. As dashing-looking man with a handlebar mus­ for it every month. No more and no less.'" tache and cowboy boots. This is Dr. Harold she talked she made graceful arcs around After frantic discussions between the herself with her hands. At the time, she was Carr, the superintendent of the entire salesman and the manager in the back Great Oaks district. He introduces two stu­ holding down two consecutive jobs after room, she drove off in her new car to the school-both in clothing stores-and she dent bakers to Bob Larson and guilelessly bank, walked in and talked her way into a describes to all the strategy of the occasion: was explaining how she got one of them. $600 down payment for the car. No tricks, "I went in and gave them my resume and, "We like to honor our employers with these no con. Just knowing how to do things, and little lunches, to let them know how much of course, I had dressed right, like I wasn't confidence. wearing anything wild. I was tidy, and I we appreciate their help. It also helps keep Self-confidence and self-esteem seem ev­ them interested in us, and keeps their minds had an interview. And what I was really erywhere as one wanders the halls of Scar­ saying to the lady during the interview was: focused on our efforts here." let Oaks School, a light-filled building of The meal, catered by student chefs and 'Look, I'm not just your average high school 310,000 square feet. It is an open place with student. I'm a vocational cooperative stu­ served by a senior in food services, is a many appealing aromas. One walks past the modest affair. Larson converses quietly with dent and that means I'm superior.'" This is area set aside for chefs and bakers-an enor­ a revolutionary attitude. mous kitchen, bigger itself than most cafe­ two baking students and the only hitch is Among other things, one doesn't normally terias-and there is the smell of bread when the serving cart erupts with several connect Ohio with revolutions. The big baking. Beyond is perfume: the beauticians' trays of crockery, and dishes hit the floor American one was largely an East Coast shop, set up complete with a waiting room. with an endless clatter. Larson looks over at affair, that being where the Colonies were. Elsewhere, there is the smell of newly cut the superintendent and says, "Don't worry, And today it is a given that new ideas blow lumber from the cabinetmakers' area and a Harold. That only happens when there's a eastward on the prevailing California winds. pungent whiff of ozone in the electricians' guest like me." But in a particular school system in the Cin­ shop. There is a friendly collusion here, quite cinnati area-a district serving 37 high A group of students emerge from a door obviously, between industry and school. And schools-20 percent of all juniors and sen­ and move cheerfully down the hallway. Its it is a collusion that Harold Carr has fos­ iors, 3,000 in all, are engaged in an educa­ walls are painted in primary-color supergra­ tered since his arrival in 1970, two years tional program that is revoluntionary by phics. They are clean as a whistle; no graffi­ after the Ohio Legislature mandated that virtue of its concentration on some old, ti, no peeling paint. A visitor wonders if he all high school students have available to simple ideas-and a few new ones. is seeing the results of some kind of subtle them comprehensive vocational education. This is the Great Oaks Joint Vocational mind-control techniques. Carr was himself a product of vocational School District, which includes Angie's In the automotive laboratory, a handful education-auto repair and machine Campus, Scarlet Oaks, along with three of young men are up to their elbows disman- trades-but he went on to college to study e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. September 9, 1988 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 23401 vocational ed.