Career Center Badly Needed

Editor, TheíNews: For years, we have practiced a dangerous policy of discrimination in Washtenaw Cpunty schools. Approximately 80 per cent of every educational tax dollar has been spent to prepare students for college.Yet only 39 per cent of our high school graduates enter a 2 or 4 year college This means we 'are inadequately preparing 61 per cent of our graduates to enter the job market. For instance, although Blacks make up only 11 per cent of the county's population, they account for 21 per cent of the unemployed. Further, by 1980, only 20 per cent of the available jobs will require a fouryear degree. It is obvious that broader educational opportunities must be provided to secure realistic options for everyone leaving our schools and entering the iob market. We have the opportunity to correct I some of these inequities on Jan. 22 when j a special elecüon will be held. Proposals I will be on the ballot to establish and build a Washtenaw Vocational Career Center. The Center would provide 40 vocational programs for high school students for occupations in any of 15 career cluster. In effect, the Center would be ari extensión of every high school in Washtenaw County. Students would I spend half of each school day at the Center and the other half at 'the home high school. ... All the vocational programs wouia De based on input from local business and industry. They also would be closely coordinated with Washtenaw Community College which does not offer or have the capacity to provide vocational programs for high school students. On Jan. 22, you will decide the fate of two questions. First, you are asked if you support the concept and creation of the Career Center and you are willing to have your property taxes raised by one mili For the average family that's about $15 per year. The second question simply asks for the authority to issue tax bonds for the Center. The money needed to repay the bonds will come from the one Imill requested in the first question. Wê beliéve the Career Center provides realistic, economically sound career alternatives for our non-college bound youth.