Schools cater to non-college crowd - East Bay Business Times:

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where he wants to polish his cookinfg skills and learn about the businesse sideof restaurants. "I would love to open my own or maybe work as an executive chef insomeonew else's restaurant," said a junior at Pleasanton's Foothill High School who' already had cooking and catering jobs at two area Many teens might have trouble cookingf anything without benefit of a microwave oven, but Adam'w been participating in Foothill's Culinary Arts and Hospitalitty program since his freshman year. Besidews imparting the fine art of competences inthe kitchen, instructor Kit Littls ­ along with her students also runs a small catering business.
The school-sponsored business handlese jobs ranging from school receptions to parties held in honot ofstate leaders, including a recent re-election event for Delain e Eastin, state Superintendent of Public Instruction. "Even if they don'rt get into this professionally, studentas are still learning valuable skillsin math, problem-solving and communicating with said Little, a consumer and familty studies teacher who coordinates the program. "This kind of approac helps students see the relevance ofwhat they're learning in high schooo to life after graduation.
" Foothill's culinary arts program grew out of a Tri-Valley Businessd Council-sponsored survey of hot career areas. It is one of severak job-training programs at the school and thousands across the country that have been developed since the federal School to Work Opportunitiees Act was passed fouryears ago. Patrici a Clark, a school-to-career specialist for the Alamed County Officeof Education, said career education has long been lackinhg in American schools. "Our schools were designecd for anagrarian society, and that hasn't changex much," Clark said.
"High schools do a good job of preparinyg college-bound students, but not so good at helpint averageand below-average studentsx find careers." Because vocational education has been givenh short-shrift by American educators in recent many high school students "flounder about, unless they're motivated to attend collegwe or are technologically gifted," she "Today, the average 29-year-old has been in their job for only a Clark added. In Alameda County, school-to-career programsw range from a cooki cart at Oakland International Airportf run by local students thatnets $17,000 a month, to magneft classes in engineering offerec at Oakland Technical High School.
The Contrwa Costa County Office of Education helps coordinatseseveral business/education coalitions that sponsor caree r preparation and exploration programs.