September 1997

 

U.S. Education Official Visits Campus

One of the nation's top education officials spent two days in Massachusetts, at the invite of Center for Occupational Education.

Patricia McNeil, the U.S. Department of Education's assistant secretary for vocational and adult education, spent June 10-11 discussing vocational education with members of the state's vocational education community, comprehensive school system personnel, and college and university representatives.

McNeil was greeted officially by Chancellor Sherry H. Penney and Sumner Rotman, director of the Center for Occupational Education.

On June 11, McNeil presented "Future Federal Direction for Vocational-Technical Education Legislation for the 21st Century" to 130 educators at the Center for Occupational Education Statewide Conference, held in Marlborough. In her presentation, she discussed the need to re-tool vocational education in response to changes in the workplace and also talked about President Clinton's proposal to use federal funds for vocational education.

"Vocational technical education is a critical part of preparing young people with the strong academic and technical skills they'll need to succeed in the 21st century," McNeil said. "President Clinton proposes new legislation that stresses student achievement, program quality, and program accountability. This legislation will help states and communities re-tool vocational education in high schools and post-secondary institutions to meet the needs of students for the Information Age," she said.

In evaluating the conference, 19 percent of respondents called McNeil's presentation outstanding, and 62 percent rated it excellent. "Too often, these types of presentations dealing with national issues tend to be stilted and officious," an anonymous respondent wrote. "The secretary's message gained impact as she presented herself as a 'real' person with issues and problems much like the rest of us," the respondent said.