THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610070051
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION 96
AT ISSUE: EDUCATION
As Virginians look forward to the Nov. 5 election, they're thinking a
lot about issues that are important in their lives. This week we
examine the qualities citizens want in their leaders, and how a few
Hampton Roads residents view thoses qualities.
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 160 lines
At 17, C. Brandon Consolvo can't vote yet.
But when he gets old enough, the Chesapeake senior will look for candidates who care about education and about the millions of kids who fall between the cracks in the education system every year.
That's because Consolvo was almost one of them. When he entered Chesapeake's Oscar F. Smith High School four years ago, he floated through the days. He wasn't much good at academics. Sports didn't interest him.
``Me and my friends joked around a lot, but we were never serious,'' he said.
The only thing he really liked to do was work on cars, but that wasn't taught in schools.
The saving grace for Consolvo came when he discovered the Chesapeake school system's Center for Science and Technology, which teaches job skills to juniors and seniors. The center has intensive courses for students who are interested in everything from computers to welding.
``I have learned so much here,'' Consolvo said. His grades have gone up, along with his interest.
He's in his second year of training at the center to become an auto specialist, study he hopes to be able to continue after high school.
``Big dreams,'' he said. ``I don't know how I'm going to get there, though.''
It will take money to put him through community college or a specialized school for auto mechanics. He doesn't see government-backed student loans as a good option, because he doesn't want to be in debt before he even starts his career.
``My dad has said, `If you want to go to college, your mom and I will find a way to pay for it,' '' Consolvo said. ``But I don't want them to have to do that.''
His mother is a sales representative for an electrical company. His father is a terminal supervisor for Mobil Oil Co. Money is not something the family takes for granted.
So Consolvo waits for opportunities - for scholarships, training programs.
He wishes national leaders would think about kids like him and send more opportunities their way.
Political leaders should allocate money to improve vocational education offerings for the many students who are floundering in regular courses, who are not bound for four-year colleges after high school, he said.
And the government should make it easier for students to get money for higher education, he said. Consolvo's idea is a set-aside program, like Social Security, in which parents would have portions of their income withdrawn by the government to be used later for their children's education.
``Kind of like a child safety blanket,'' Consolvo said. CONSOLVO'S QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES
Not all students will go to four-year colleges after high school. What more could the federal government do to help kids who take a vocational track? What would you do? SENATE
John W. Warner
``The federal government supports vocational training, school-to-work programs, and a variety of other initiatives designed to help individuals who are not college-bound prepare themselves to be competitive in the global markets of today and tomorrow. Among the federal programs I have supported to assist these individuals are community-based school-to-work, young apprenticeship partnerships and the highly successful Tools-for-Schools program, which provides surplus Department of Defense vocational and technical training materials to local schools.''
Mark R. Warner
``Four-year colleges aren't the best option for everyone, but our country does a dreadful job of vocational education. The private sector spent $300 billion on job training last year. If we did a better job of preparing our kids for the work force, that money could go to developing products or opening new markets and creating jobs. I support the School to Work program, which gives students job experience by linking them with employers in community-based projects. I also believe that we should start vocational training at an earlier age, perhaps even in the elementary grades as they do at Huff Lane Magnet School in Roanoke.'' HOUSE 2ND DISTRICT
Owen B. Pickett
``Vocational education is one of the three programs emphasized by the federal government in its support to local school divisions. School-to-work-programs, a combination of school and on-the-job learning, have proven very effective in moving high school graduates successfully into the work force. Closely akin to this are the apprenticeship programs that are sponsored by the Department of Labor and administered by the Virginia Employment Commission. I strongly believe that additional monies invested in vocational education, school-to-work and apprenticeship programs is the most effective way to prepare young people not planning to continue their formal education."
John F. Tate
``I would leave decisions regarding vocational training and community colleges up to the state and local government. The federal government is incapable of dealing with specific local educational needs.'' 3RD DISTRICT
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott ``Because of the increase in technology and the global nature of the economy, at least 75 percent of jobs in the future will require education past the high school level. Most of these do not necessarily require a four-year degree but will require significant on-the-job training or one or two years in community colleges, apprentice schools or career schools. If federal government is going to provide tax relief, tax credits for education should be one of the first things considered. And we need to support career schools and community colleges. Finally, we need to continue to support school-to-work initiatives that were funded two years ago."
Elsie Goodwyn Holland ``I would not vote for or initiate any federal program to take charge or control of sending children to vocational schools. They get the basics in high school. We have guidance counselors and we give aptitude tests, and they can be sent in the right direction, like to a local business to become an apprentice and learn a trade. That should be handled at the local level and with the businesses.'' 4TH DISTRICT
Norman Sisisky
``The proposal for a $1,500 tax credit for two years of college is a step forward. Another strategy is the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, which passed into law a couple years ago. The idea was to provide funding to state and local governments, which they could use to train students in both academic and job skills. I think the important thing really is to encourage partnerships between businesses and schools, because businesses are the ones ultimately that will be providing the jobs.''
Anthony J. Zevgolis
``I support a GI bill, where the government can provide for low-income and middle-income kids, like we did for the GIs, a $1,000-per-year scholarship for college. They could use that $1,000 to go to a vocational school. I think it's obvious that we can't all be college-educated. And I think it's important for that student who just doesn't have a knack for numbers to get help, so we can keep him off the public welfare rolls.'' MEMO: ON TUESDAY: Karen I. Brandl of Virginia Beach, the mother of two
school-age children, believes that education is too important to be left
up to the government.
NEXT WEEK: CRIME
Sunday, we will hear what candidates and citizens have to say about
crime. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo, Appeared on page B1]
In high school, Brandon Consolvo of Chesapeake found that academics
wasn't his thing. Nor was sports. But working on cars was. Now a
senior, he wants leaders to allocate money for better vocational ed
- and to help people save for higher education.
Brandon Consolvo attends the Chesapeake schools' Center for Science
and Technology, where he's in his second year of training as an auto
specialist.
KEYWORDS: SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CONGRESSIONAL RACE VIRGINIA
CANDIDATES ISSUES EDUCATION by CNB