I’d like to follow up on the Bangor Daily News article on my recent remarks to the Portland Chamber of Commerce in which I outlined the new direction I believe Maine needs to take in the education and training of our work force.

There is one point I’d like to elaborate on for your readers, regarding “tracking,” which was highlighted in the headline of the article. As I said in my remarks, I support several recommendations included in the highly acclaimed national report titled, “America’s choice: High skills or low wages,” which calls for, among other things, a national test assessing the basic skills of students by age 16. Following the test, students would choose from a number of options: 1) college prep programming leading to a baccalaureate-level college or university; 2) tech prep programming which would pave the way to a one- or two-year technical college program; 3) a youth apprecenticeship program; or 4) direct entry into the work force.

This scenario was referred to in the article as “career tracking,” which has historically carried with it some negative perceptions, as it infers that students are ushered, “because of lack of ability,” onto a train heading on a single track. Once on the train, the student has little opportunity to change his or her course of direction.

What I am advocating is seamless education, in which all “highways” have exit and entrance ramps, and all move forward to a positive outcome. Under this proposal, all of our education and training systems would be connected, allowing students, at different points in their lives, to pursue additional education and attain new skills without having to backtrack and duplicate courses. In fact, I strongly believe that Maine could lead the nation in creating an “interstate” system, in which credentials earned in our state are recognized and accepted at education systems in other states….

I believe that once we see these highly skilled workers as they take their skills into the work force and earn higher wages as a result of this preparation, we will see a change in how technicians and front-line workers are viewed. One day, like some countries overseas, our society will look at these workers with a greater respect and admiration, seeing them as talented individuals, as critical players at their place of employment, and as absolutely essential to the health and vitality of our economy…. John Fitzsimmons, president Maine Technical College System