If I could open a new school

In my young twenties, I was quite the idealist and I hadn't even taken my first college course yet. I suppose information, knowledge, and wisdom have always been some of my addictions. Though I love reading and writing, I have found that addicts of knowledge tend to prefer experience driven lessons over virtual lessons. Educators call this preference a "learning style" known as "Active" and "Concrete" per Kolb's descriptions. (The other two styles are "Reflective" and "Abstract", and I suspect most people are a combination of all four with one style typically dominating the personality.)

When I think of all the problems of society and our civilized lives, I often voice a passionate cry for solutions and action. I do my best to take my own advice given the parameters of "give and take" and what's available to be done. As a former English class teacher, I have often considered the options available for me to pursue that career in various ways or places besides the traditional or formal classroom as was my experience in the past.

I have previously mentioned my concern about abandoned buildings (and housing issues) and my opinions about restoration projects, crime, and natural disasters. Now I'd like to express my thoughts (idealistically) on the future of education. American education has a long history and has evolved just like the landscape of American terrain always trying to adapt to the current needs of the people. The new millenium is struggling the most (in my opinion) in regards to educational institutions because there is not majority or overall consensus opinion of what a "good" or "necessary" education is anymore. My "youthful" idealism is refreshed and willing to share my thoughts on New Schools.

Let me begin in my imagination with an abandoned building such as the one pictured above. It could be condemned or deemed unworthy of restoration for various red tape and code violations. Or it could be considered a new and worthy project for a new and worthy educational facility or assignment. One must step away from the traditional classroom with textbooks and desks to envision what I am going to propose. First, let me step back into my personal history where I spent my teaching internship at Tampa Bay Technical High School, a school that was different from where I had achieved my high school diploma (Bloomingdale High School). At Bloomingdale High School, we students were offered three trek options: College Prep, Vocational, or General Ed. Those who chose the College Prep trek were guided to take all pre-requisite courses to prepare the student for College courses. The General Ed trek was for those who simply wanted to graduate from High School with the basic General Eduation that a High School graduate "should" have, equal to the G.E.D, which most of the students simply took the G.E.D test instead of that trek. The few BHS students who took the Vocational trek, were often sent to other institutions for training because the BHS campus was not set up for advanced vocational lessons. Freedom and Fairness were at play at BHS, but it was definitely a matter of the student's choice. The students I had the pleasure to instruct at Tampa Bay Tech High School, were all on the Vocational trek, so the basic subjects of General Education (Math, English, Science, History) were not as important to those students as was their vocational focus. Some were studying to be beauticians. Some were studying welding. Some were studying computer science. Some were studying healthcare options. There were lots of programs offered and I was amazed at the "head start" that these students would have as opposed to students like me who opted (some were forced) to only learn the College Prep education. The students of TBT High School already had a trade to go with their diploma, while the students of BHS High School only had their privileged parents and an opportunity to go to college.

My vision or proposal for a New School, is based on my love of restoration projects and my love of vocational education. Instead of condemning the above building and having it demolished, wouldn't it be a perfect school for the vocational trek? Couldn't students learn how to put in a new floor or window with this building? Couldn't students learn roofing and door locks and alarm systems with this building? Couldn't students learn business management, buying and budgets, and crew work with this building? Couldn't old retired electricians or carpenters or designers or mechanics lead these classrooms of inspired, eager students instead of sitting on a bench somewhere feeding pigeons and pondering their glory days?

Am I being too idealistic or too sensible?