Councilor John A. Michitson said he believes, quoting his role model, “young people need models, not critics.”
His fellow city councilors heard his concerns Tuesday night about what is lacking today.
“My true passion was to be a NCAA basketball coach and that started while I was in eighth grade at Nettle School and John Wooden was my role model,” he said. “In retrospect, I would have benefitted from multiple role models and career-connected learning in school to seek out that passion and other passions that I had over time.”
An electrical engineer, Michitson said he chose his field and community service due to his family upbringing and a high demand for engineering skills. He lamented, “Unfortunately, many students do not have advocates like my parents were for me.” Michitson said career-connected learning can help students find more interest in the classroom.
“Both Whittier Vocational Tech and Haverhill High School have excellent career technical education programs that also prepare students for college. While Whittier Vocational Tech also has highly sought-after vocational programs all aimed at integrating learning and future work and again, interest,” he said.
He argued, however, the state’s limitations on high schools providing the same vocational classes “makes it a crisis for students seeking vocational training.” He went on to question how connected to their education are the approximately 250 students on the waiting list for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.
“This was a big opportunity for them for upward mobility and unfortunately there are a lot of barriers that are preventing that,” he said.
He later said he was impressed that both Haverhill Superintendent Margaret Marotta and Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch both aim to address the issue. He added Whittier Tech tries to mitigate the shortage of full-time seats by providing part-time alternatives. However, he noted, seats are underutilized despite marketing the program to area high schools.
Whittier Tech offers an alternative, allowing high school seniors, unemployed and underemployed adults to explore one vocational program per week and later allow them to enroll in a 200-hour summer training program in the trade of their choice. Upon graduation, students may enter the program of their choice if it is available.
The school also recently partnered with Community Action to teach welding while the nonprofit offers language classes.
He said he believes the biggest challenge is addressing the enrollment gap between both schools.
“Haverhill High, which is required to take in all students while Whittier Vo Tech can select students based on success factors such as grades and attendance, as dictated by the state” he said. “So how much [of a] chance do those 250 kids really have to get the career training that they’re seeking?”
Council Vice President Timothy J. Jordan said he agrees with Michitson, citing free programs at Northern Essex Community College.
“If you’re going to be in school six, seven hours a day and you’re not at the school you want to be at, there aren’t classes that are interesting to you, it’s basically a waste of time for kids to be there,” he said. “But that whole idea of feeling connected, being part of a community, you’re going to feel more connected and part of a community if you’re in a learning environment that you actually want to be in.”
The council unanimously approved a motion to refer the matter to its Planning and Development Committee.