1. ARE YOU READY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL? Facts Students and Parents need to know
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6. Kentucky full time wage and salary workers, 25 years & older, 2004 average
7. 30-40% of the jobs available in seven years have not yet been created.
8. Over a lifetime, workers with a college degree will earn nearly $1,000,000 more than workers without a college degree. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004-05
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10. Nine of the ten fastest growing occupations are in Healthcare or Computers
25. No matter what their circumstance, students need to take responsibility now to ensure a successful tomorrow
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30. Follow these steps and feel confident you are prepared for what lies ahead!
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Editor's Notes
We’d like to spend a little time with you today to talk about what today’s middle school students and their parents need to know about the future – how jobs have changed, and what that means for what middle school students need to do now, and what they need to plan for after high school.
The time has come to seriously look toward the future, and ask, am I ready?
If there is any theme that is important for all of today’s middle school students, it is that the jobs that will be available require higher level skills and more education than at any time in our history. Most jobs in the 21 st century that provide a decent living will require some kind of education or training beyond high school. Everyone may not need a four year degree, but all high school graduates need to plan on some type of additional education or training.
We can see that the world is changing - we see over and over that a high school diploma is no longer sufficient for good jobs. Not only do the fastest growing jobs require education beyond high school, but we anticipate that by 2010, more than 85% of jobs will require some kind of postsecondary education or training.
Not only is education beyond high school required for most good jobs, but it also pays more money! A person with a Bachelor’s degree can expect to make about twice as much a year as a person with a high school diploma.
As you can see, the more education you have, the more money you are likely to earn. A person with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn significantly more than someone with a high school diploma.
Although we don’t know exactly what these jobs will be, we do know that to succeed workers must be able to write and speak clearly, analyze information, conduct research, and solve difficult problems. These specific skills are acquired by taking rigorous academic courses and making the most of their middle school and high school experience.
That pay differential between workers with a college degree and those without one adds up.
Some kids think if they don’t finish high school, they can just join the military. Not so - to even get in the military, a high school diploma is needed, and to advance at all, further education is needed.
Jobs in these two fields require cutting-edge knowledge and information. Students must also have a strong understanding of the math and sciences to compete in these two fields.
Let’s look at some specific careers choices. All require some postsecondary training- Heath Aides on the job training, Network systems- BA, Software engineers- BA, Forensic technicians- At least an associates, PT- Masters degree. As we take a look at a few specific career paths available to students, it’s evident postsecondary training and education is imperative.
Many students have an idea of what jobs interest them, but often lack an understanding of what skills are required to get them there. Let’s look at the educational requirements and pay scale.
Because this is an up-and-coming career, required education can vary. Some universities are starting to offer certificate, MA degree and even a PHD program in video game design. Many students dream of a job in this field, but lack direction on how to achieve this goal.
Here’s another occupation available to students.
Demands for PT assistants are expected to grow much faster than average due to the large baby boomer population. Some states require licensure as well as a minimum number of hours in clinical experience. Academic course work includes algebra, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and psychology. Sixty percent of PT Assistants work in a hospital setting. Other work settings may include nursing homes, home health care services and physician offices.
. An interpreter converts one spoken language into another. A translator coverts written material from one language into another. 20% of these workers are self-employed, meaning work can be sporadic. Conference interpreters or those who work in a technical field have MA. NO formal certification is required. However, organizations such as The American Translators Association and the Translators and Interpreters Guild offer certification programs.
Success in the future is not a secret. By following these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to a more rewarding tomorrow.
What we used to call the “college prep” curriculum is fast becoming the standard curriculum for everyone. Gone are the days when only a few students needed to be prepared to succeed in postsecondary education - now everyone needs those courses that prepare them.
Encourage your kids, parents, to take those advanced classes. Just the exposure to higher level material has amazing value to all kids. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the single biggest predictor of success is quality and intensity of their high school education. As your prepare to select courses in middle school and beyond, choose rigorous courses that will give you the greatest preparation for the future.
Middle school mathematics is critical to success in higher level math in high school. The 21st century jobs out there won’t be welcoming to anyone who “can’t do math.” We know all kids can learn - make sure your school provides the math instruction needed by all kids.
One of the things we see often is that kids, their parents, and their teachers have different ideas about what the students will or should do after high school Notice that 79% of the students think they will attend some kind of postsecondary education; 68% of their parents agree, and only 51% of their teachers If we really want our kids to strive for the further education they will need, we must have high expectations
So make sure you (or your child) is prepared – so you will be the one who stands out.
What can students do to make sure they are ready? You have to be there to learn, and be ready for class The toughest courses you can take will pay off in the long run Set your goals high and stick to them!
And parents can help too. Things are different now than when parents were in school - and that means parents have to help prepare their kids for a different environment.
And your school has some responsibility also. Keep your communications open with your school, and make sure they believe every child can learn at a high level and are providing the opportunities for all kids to be successful.
The future that awaits today’s students is different from anything we have known, and takes a different kind of preparation. But if you take the needed steps, you can be confident about the future!
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