State Rep. Glen Thompson touts importance of career and technology education
KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
U.S. Rep. G.T. Thompson speaks during a recent editorial board with the Williamsport Sun-Gazette
“It’s a pathway to economic prosperity.”
That is what U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, told the Sun-Gazette editorial board this week was one of the main reasons he sponsors or supports legislation to continue investment in the “bricks and mortar” of career and technology education (CTE) programs, whether they be in high schools or at individual locations
Thompson, who will be seeking his 10th term in office in the general election Nov. 3, is co-chair of the House Career Technology and Education Caucus
Today, such hands-on training, especially in schools within the 15th Congressional District, have “waiting lists,” he noted
Locally, for example, there are facilities where students can take a pathway in automotive technology, computer systems technology, construction technology, criminal justice, culinary arts, early childhood education, and health careers and welding, as examples
“Statistics show that youth who are engaged and enrolled in career technology education are far less likely to drop out,” Thompson said
As a member of Congress, he has introduced several pieces of what he considered bipartisan legislation tailored to students, their parents, employers, and educators
His focus includes that of workforce training as indicative in the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act, a bipartisan bill that would attempt to address a severe childcare workforce shortage by investing in career and technical education (CTE) programs
The legislation includes the awarding of grants to eligible partnerships such as institutions of higher education, childcare providers, or relevant workforce training programs with schools
It establishes, expands, or supports career and technical education and career pathway programs of study in early childhood education. The legislation creates clear career pathways, and incentivizes students to enter early childhood education
“I’m a recovering school board member,” Thompson said, saying so because he has heard back from board members and superintendents on the impact of losing population and thus student enrollment dropping in traditional districts
This is crucial because without the CTE programs employers are left without qualified workers ready to get these next-gen jobs, he said
Thompson cited the success of the CTE program at Williamsport Area High School, which has expanded its welding with the district recently undertaking a $3 million project to enlarge and renovate the high school welding lab
Thompson said he often brings employers to the table, listening to their needs as he crafts legislation or supports it so these CTE providers can provide programs that reflect the needs of the industry
He said he supports internships, and in some cases, paid experiences for students heading into the full-time workforce
He said he is supportive of exposing students to career and technology education as early as middle school
He recalled when the former 5th District had covered parts of Erie County and he learned how a daycare or pre-school class taught rudimentary aspects of CTE
He also pointed toward how that path can be a better starting point for students to explore, especially those who might not want to be restricted to the traditional public school academic coursework which is less concentrated on hands-on learning
He noted how he learned of a young man who he called “troubled,” who became interested in welding, which is a trade that requires a fair bit of knowledge of chemistry, mathematics, and science. The young man was hired as a welder going to work for a pipeline company. He returned to thank his instructors, one of whom was a friend of Thompson’s, who said when he asked the young adult what he was earning per hour as a welder he said he thought about it for a second and replied, it would be equivalent to about $200,000 a year.
Such financial success of graduates of CTE programs is just one of the outcomes
Thompson said he learned about another when he appeared with a fellow Democrat on a talk show on C-SPAN, which can quickly become caustic depending on the subject matter
Instead, during the program an older man called in and said he learned the tool and dye trade and was so proud to have designed a part that was used on the International Space Station
Thompson also cited how his own father learned the trade of tool and die making by first going to a trade school in Williamsport, now the Pennsylvania College of Technology
From that kind of hands-on training his father not only had a career but he eventually also owned his own business
