There’s concern in agriculture about the future of career and technical education with the restructuring of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or DESE. Missouri Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse says the Farm Bureau is concerned because career and technical education was left out of the reorganization chart that was released last month. Tammy Bartholomew, with the Missouri Vocational and Agricultural Teachers Association, says there was no assurance about the future of career and technical education from the department.
“There has not been any communication between DESE or any of those in career and technical education to provide us with the answers we needed to make us feel like we has the assurance that career and technical education would get to continue as it has in the past,” said Bartholomew.
The education department then released a revised chart earlier this week which includes career and technical education and a letter from the assistant commissioner explaining how important it is. But Garrett Hawkins, a lobbyist for the Missouri Farm Bureau, says that may not be enough.
“I think there are more questions that need to be answered,” said Hawkins. “There are other things, more details that are needed, to assure us that career and technical education is a priority.”
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says 60-percent of high school students enroll in career oriented education programs.
AUDIO: Tammy Bartholomew, MVATA ( 5 minutes, mp3)
AUDIO: Garrett Hawkins, Missouri Farm Bureau (4 minutes, mp3)
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