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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2016)
OPINION A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 Real world skill-building needed in Oregon Statewide initiative would deliver skills to students to replace Baby Boomers leaving workforce By LIZ HERRERA Guest commentary I’ll soon be saying “good- bye” to my family and friends, and my hometown, Hermiston. I graduated high school this year and in Sep- tember and I’ll start my next chapter when I go to George Fox University to study civil engineering and graphic arts. This is super-exciting for me! Just a few years ago I had no idea what I would be doing after high school. But thanks to vocational and career technical educa- tion offered to me during high school, I now have clear vision for myself! One three- year course changed the way I viewed my own abilities and my future. Most Oregon students, however, never have this type of opportunity because vocational and career tech- nical education haven’t been prioritized statewide with ad- equate, stable funding. That’s why Initiative Peti- tion 65, which will be on the November ballot, is so im- portant for this state. To suc- ceed, all Oregon kids need access to hands-on learning and a path to the future. IP65 will give schools the funds they need to make this type of learning available. This was more than just a Hermiston class; it was a community at work. Students from Stanield and Umatilla have the opportunity to bus to Hermiston for classes in construction. I was able to not only work with students from Hermiston, but other students in my district. I was involved with this course for two years. In my junior and senior years, we built houses from the ground up. This was a hands-on ex- perience, teaching us speciic skills as well as awareness of how much goes into build- ing a house. We learned the big things – like framing and foundations. We also learned Worship about the small details that really impress people—the right colors, molding and inish work, even wireless technologies. Our instructors were ex- perienced contractors. They knew the craft and the busi- ness and they went out of their way to mentor us. They made sure we got exposure to the things that interested us most. I can speak for my en- tire team when I tell you we loved doing the work. I even came in extra days to do my work. It was more than just a learning exercise. It felt more like a job – and I was respon- sible for its success. Students are curious and clamoring for hands-on ex- periences. For example, with all the retiring baby boom- ers, our state has a real need for young people to go into health care careers – many of which don’t require a four- year college degree but in- stead require technical skills that can start being learned in high school. Other states offer high school classes on topics like medical interventions, emer- gency medical technician and math for medical profes- sionals. I know these classes are appealing to students be- cause they see the real-world beneits of these classes. The problem is that in Oregon, there just aren’t enough classes like these available for high schoolers. Schools that do have them are forced to ight for grants, which last a couple of years and don’t provide stable funding needed to make long-term investments in technology. Which is why many schools have one vo- cational or technical career course available. And with just a few subject areas of CTE at a high school, we cannot hope to prepare stu- dents for the range of disci- plines and skills in today’s world. In short, schools need more dedicated funding for vocational and career tech- nical education. That’s what IP65 would do. With huge numbers of baby boomers exiting the workforce, it’s vitally im- portant that Oregon grows its pools of people who un- derstand everything about construction – from carpen- ters to engineers. The same is true for every industry – from the medical ield to high technology. Why not start educating teenagers in high school with skills that will make them more employable and im- prove their earning ability? IP65 doesn’t raise taxes. It doesn’t take money away from other important causes. And districts won’t be forced to use IP65 dollars. Instead, IP65 dedicates new state revenue to Ore- gon’s schools. It will allow school districts to determine what their students need to be successful and give them the funds to make sure all high school students have options for career and voca- tional coursework. I’m excited by the pros- pect that in the next few years, access to hands-on learning like I had won’t de- pend on the luck of the draw or where you live. If Orego- nians vote “yes” on IP65 in November, we can make this a reality. Switch to U.S. Cellular ® now and get 50% off iPhone 6s. On the network that works in the Middle of Anywhere. Echo Community Church 21 N. Bonanza Street, Echo OR Phone: (541) 376-8108 Sunday School • 9:30am Worship • 10:45am Children’s Church • 11:15am Potluck & Communion ~ First Sunday of the Month LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232 Pastor David Dever Sun. Bible Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00am Sun. Worship Service . . . . . . . . . . 11:00am Sun. Evening Worship . . . . . . . . . . 6:00pm Wed. Prayer & Bible Study . . . 6:00pm www.hermistonlmbc.com The Full Gospel Home Church 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Pet. 5:7 Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” First United Methodist Church Of Hermiston Rev. Dr. James T. Pierce, Pastor Open Hearts, Open minds, Open doors 191 E. Gladys Ave. Sunday Worship at 11am (541) 567-3002 St. Johns Episcopal Church All People Are Welcome Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 Seventh-day Adventist Church 1255 Hwy. 395 S. • 567-5834 oasisvineyard.us Worship 10:00 AM "come as you are" NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston Sunday Worship Services English- Pastor Dave Andrus 9:00 & 10:45 am Spanish- Pastor Genaro Loredo 9:00 & 10:15 am Classes for kids during all services For more information call 541-567-8441 Saturdays Sabbath School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 a.m. Worship Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 a.m. 567-8241 855 W. Highland • Hermiston Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . English 7:00 am THURSDAY . . . . . . . . . Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY: . . . . . . . . . English 5:00 pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . English 9:00 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bilingual 11:00 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spanish 1:00 pm OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567-5812 With 3D Touch, Live Photos, 7000 series aluminum, A9 chip, advanced cameras, 4.7-inch Retina HD display, and so much more, you’ll see how with iPhone 6s the only thing that’s changed is everything. Requires Retail Installment Contract, credit approval and mail-in rebate. NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children's Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 541-289-4774 First Christian Church "Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love" SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00 AM COFFEE / MINGLE 9:15 AM CHILDREN'S CHURCH 10:00 AM Nursery Provided 567-3013 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678 Things we want you to know: New Shared Connect Plan and Retail Installment Contract required. Device Protection+, Smartphone turn-in and credit approval also required. A $25 Device Activation Fee applies. A Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee (currently $1.82/line/month) applies; this is not a tax or gvmt. required charge. Additional fees (including Device Connection Charges), taxes, terms, conditions and coverage areas apply and may vary by plan, service and phone. Offers valid at participating locations only and cannot be combined. See store or uscellular.com for details. 50% Off Smartphones Promo: 50%-off rebate on select Smartphone devices. Rebate shall be equal to either 50% of device price before taxes or $336, whichever is lower. Rebate fulfilled in the form of a U.S. Cellular Promotional Card issued by MetaBank, ® Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Valid only for purchases at U.S. Cellular stores and uscellular.com. Allow 8–10 weeks for processing after final submission. 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