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(HIGHLIGHTS, continued from page 3)
Making the statement was Joel Magisos, Associate
Director, National Center for Research in Vocational
Education, Columbus, Ohio. He was responding to the
results of several recent studies dealing with educa-
tion, most of which call for an increased emphasis on
language arts, mathematics and science.
Magisos stressed that students need not only the
"basics" to achieve on the job but they also need
occupational skills upon leaving the secondary
schools.
AVA Executive Director Gene Bottoms said voca-
tional education has a multi-functional role in the
secondary schools. Among its roles are to: reinforce
academic skills through application; teach common
skills; create a motivational base for learning;
develop work habits; increase "tech literacy" of all
students; and teach skills to enter specific occupa-
tional areas.
Numerous speakers stressed the importance of
closer industry/education ties as a means of keeping
instructional content and training resources current.
The need to eliminate hurdles which inhibit the use
of industry personnel as teachers was mentioned sev-
eral times.
High Tech Impacting Economy
This nation's economic development will follow a
course set by the growth of high technology, says
Carrol Marsalis, Program Manager for High Technology
Demonstrations, Tennessee Valley Authority.
Speaking at the October 13-14 Southern Regional
Meeting of State Advisory Councils for Vocational
Education, held in Nashville, Marsalis said "nearly
50 percent of all jobs created the past four years
were generated by high tech."
He went on to say that "sustained economic
growth cannot happen without a skilled work force.
Marketing people, scientific people and voc ed people
must work hand-in-hand."
Richard Sappenfield, Vice President and General
Manager for AVCO Aero-structures, told attendees that
his company requires workers who "need a mix of basic
skills (60%) and specific skills (40%).
Programs designed to retrain and upgrade the
skills of the nation's work force will become more
important. Marsalis said "today's workers will con-
stitute 90 percent of the work force in 1990 and 74
percent of the work force in the year 2000."
Closer industry/voc ed ties were stressed.
Marsalis said "equipment currently used in voc ed is
a joke." He said "voc ed can no longer get surplus
property and use it for training."
Sharon Willis, Editor
Lynda Permenter, Assoc. Editor
ACTVE-(512) 475-2046
Cletus G. Michel, Chairperson
Will Reece, Executive Director
The Advisory Council for Technical-
Vocational Education in Texas
P. O. Box 1886
Austin, Texas 78767
