Quote:
Originally Posted by 911pcars
Please explain. Are you intimating liability issues?
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Yes, at least in the state of Illinois. Probably a different situation depending on what state and how the school taxing bodies are.
Years ago, accidents would happen but the law wouldn't come down on a teacher, assistant or school. In the 1980's, almost any accident in a school shop where an injury occured would be dragged through the courts with some major awards to plaintiff's. Illinois has school districts so cut up and not as consolidated or streamlined as other states. Only in the last few years have they admitted this and the problems. Their trying to change but its so messed up now, who knows??
So what happened, these smaller districts and taxing bodies could no longer afford the liabilities. The easiast way to save the cost was simply eliminating trade related programs in high school. Lots of fire sales throughout the state for school shop equipment was common from 1987 to 1990. It was obvious what had happened. However, some of the wealthier districts were able to work it out with local county colleges and by busing high school students during the day for mechanical, woodwork, electrical, HVAC, etc. classes at the college.
Outside of the arrangement above, I find it interesting that an adult can take shop classes at a community college but high school aged cannot. They need a GED and credits in order for admittance. So the education system views it as the 'cart before the horse'. Too bad as I think learning a trade or at least exposing the possibilities to HS students is crucial at that age.