Cooperative Education: Experience for Everyone

I remember my very first teaching interview.  Actually, it started about a week before the interview.  I was driving in the car and my phone rang.  It was the principal of a school who had a 5th grade math teacher opening.  I student taught in that exact environment and made sure to sell my skill set accordingly in my resume.  The principal told me on the phone that he'd already gone through one round of interviews when he came across my resume and application.  He was so impressed that he wanted to interview me during the second round.  I was thrilled.  I just knew this had to be the perfect job for me.  I went through the interview process, convinced myself that the teachers on the interview committee weren't as unfriendly as they seemed, and waited to hear back.  I received the call from the principal informing me that while I had a great interview and a strong knowledge base in mathematics, they were going with someone who had more experience.  I couldn't blame him.  He had explained to me previously that test scores in his school were poor and math was an area in which his students were significantly under-performing, so he needed someone with a proven track record of making that happen.  I couldn't exactly argue, though I was discouraged.  I wanted to teach fifth grade, but with the testing pressure, would any school ever hire me because I had no experience? 

Photo Courtesy of Cooperative Education & Internship Association

Where Does One Get Experience?
I'm sure we've all been in the situation where we are turned down for a job because we don't have experience; yet the only way to get experience is to get a job.  Many people try to go the internship route, but often those are unpaid, which many people cannot afford to take.  Even then those internships happen because of a course of study through a university.  What about those who choose to forgo college and enter the workforce?  What options exist for them? 

Cooperative education is an option for many high school students across the country, but few take advantage of all it has to offer.  In the late 90s, less than ten percent of high school students were enrolled in cooperative education programs.   The Florida Department of Education describes cooperative education as a combination of traditional classroom techniques with practical work experience.  This on-the-job (OTJ) training serves as a bridge for students, schools, and the business community.  Since businesses are reliant upon local workers to maintain their business, they are stakeholders in local schools.  It only makes sense that they would want to train workers in their methods, scope out local talents, and help the community. 

Benefits of Cooperative Education
People often assume that cooperative education is solely for those who are not planning to attend college.  While my high school offered cooperative education programs, I can't remember a conversation with my guidance counselor about having the opportunity to take those classes.  I recently heard about a young man in Valparaiso, Indiana who worked for a heating and air conditioning company during his senior year in a cooperative education program.  After graduation he was not only offered a full-time position with the company upon his graduation, but the company is also going to be paying for him to get his degree in heating/air conditioning management. 

Students benefit from cooperative education by being able to utilize educational theory in real life work experiences, try out possible career opportunities, and enhance their 21st century skills through problem solving and critical thinking on the job.  They're even able to build a work experience portfolio for future applications and job opportunities.  A frequent aspect that is often forgotten in the job search is having references to back up one's character and abilities.  Cooperative education provides those references with business contacts and the teacher supervisor who observes the student at work.  The work experience problem is solved!

For More Information
The following sites provide valuable information on cooperative education programs and internships. 
http://www.ceiainc.org/home.asp
http://www.waceinc.org/
http://www.cafce.ca/

Pay it Forward
From an employer standpoint, it's giving back to the community.  Why not help out youth and keep them involved?  We never know when we'll need these newly experienced workers to take over.  In August, I'll be starting my new job as a 4th grade teacher at another school in the district.  The principal specifically requested me for his building.  He had openings in third and fourth grades.  I told him I preferred third grade.  His response?  "I need you in 4th grade.  I'm not happy with our test scores and I need someone strong and with experience to get the scores up."  Seven years after that first interview, a principal is seeking me out for my experience and track record.  I'm looking forward to it for sure.  I'm sure it'll be an "experience"!