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Vocational education is a form of education that prepares students for future careers. The goal is to ensure that students obtain the right skill sets to compete in the global economy.

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Education is for Participatory Readiness

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Education is for Participatory Readiness

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Civic Agency - Participatory Readiness is about preparing people with the knowledge and skills to be active members of society. It means being able to understand important issues, discuss them, and make informed decisions, like voting or engaging in the community. This intertwines with the idea of Civic Agency is the ability to influence society and make changes, whether through voting, activism, or leadership. It means having the confidence and capability to shape the world around you.

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Legal Recognition in regards to Civil Education

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Legal Recognition in regards to Civil Education

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The New York Court ruled in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) case that education must prepare students for civic participation, not simply employment. The ruling emphasized that civic readiness includes understanding complex ballot and legal arguments. The importance of the argument falls into line on how ruling confirms that education is about more than job training, it should also equip students with the skills to engage in democracy. The impact of this is that Civil Education is a legal right.

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Economist Joseph Stiglitz, in “Rewriting the Rules of the American Economy (2015)”, argues that inequality is created by policy choices, instead of globalization or simply  technology. Dani Rodrik supports this statement. She claims that that economic disparities result from political decisions on labor, finance, and housing policies

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Historical Shift in Educational Priorities 

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Historical Shift in Educational Priorities 

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The vocational paradigm in education emerged after the 1957 launch of Sputnik. It occurred when the U.S. government prioritized STEM subjects through the National Defense Education Act (1958). This focus intensified in 1983 with A Nation at Risk, shifting education toward economic competitiveness over civic engagement.There were many external pressures, like the Cold War, which shaped education policy, prioritizing workforce development over democratic participation.This shift marginalized civic education. It leads to students less prepared for active citizenship. The impact of this is a weakened sense of civic duty. When schools prioritize job training over civic engagement, democratic participation declines.

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The Role of Humanities in Political Participation 

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The Role of Humanities in Political Participation 

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The Department of Education data shows that 92.8% of humanities graduates voted at least once after graduation (vs. 83.5% of STEM graduates). It also shows that 44.1% of humanities graduates contacted public officials within ten years. Political scientist Sunshine Hillygus confirms that higher verbal skills correlate with greater civic engagement. Humanities courses develop critical thinking, argumentation, and social awareness. These skills are necessary for democratic participation. STEM education is extremely important as well, but it does not emphasize these skills as strongly. The decline of humanities education in favor of STEM-driven vocational training may lead to less political engagement.

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Vocational Education Keeps US Students Immersed in the Workforce as the Global Economy Continues to Advance

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Vocational Education Keeps US Students Immersed in the Workforce as the Global Economy Continues to Advance

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Jeffrey Aaron Snyder agrees with Allen’s argument, stating that “These worries have only intensified since the early 1980s, with rapid economic globalization and an international testing bonanza that generates perennial "U.S. students are falling behind” headlines. But a strong vocational impulse actually emerged much earlier, at the turn of the twentieth century. Indeed, instruction designed to prepare students for the job market is part of the basic architecture of the modern high school.” In other words, Snyder shares his observations about the global economic advancements causing students in the US to fall behind in the education system. In order to compensate, vocational education allows students to gain the proper skills needed to excel in the job market.

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Advancements in Technology has Called for a Greater Demand in STEM Related Jobs

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Advancements in Technology has Called for a Greater Demand in STEM Related Jobs

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President Obama, in his 2013 State of the Union address, announced a competition to “redesign America's high schools." Rewards would go, he said, to schools that develop more classes “that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math—the skills today's employers are looking for to fill jobs right now and in the future." More recently, in his 2016 State of the Union address, the president announced a Computer Science for All initiative that would make students "job-ready on day one." An advancement in technology caused there to be a higher demand in STEM careers. In order to prepare students for this evolution, school have been instructed to focus on teaching STEM classes to students, to prepare them for more technologically, scientifically, and mathematically advanced jobs.

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Global technological advancements linking back to the Cold War has led to a new approach in the education system, that being vocational education

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Global technological advancements linking back to the Cold War has led to a new approach in the education system, that being vocational education

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The Soviet launch of Sputnik, the first satellite, provoked a sense that the United States was falling behind in a Cold War scientific contest. The response was the National Defense Education Act, signed into law in 1958, which increased funding for science and math education, as well as vocational training.

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Morrill Act: The U.S. government passed the Morrill Act, established land-grant colleges. These schools offered practical and agricultural education, focusing on skills needed for farming and industry.

Vocational Training in High Schools: As cities grew, more schools began offering specialized training in skills like typing, cooking, and mechanics. This helped prepare young people for work in growing industries.

Smith-Hughes Act: The Smith-Hughes Act was passed to provide federal funding for vocational education.

Great Depression and the Need for Skilled Workers: During the Great Depression, there was a greater focus on job training programs to help people get back to work. Vocational education became a key tool in improving employability during hard times.

Post-WWII Expansion: After World War II, the need for skilled workers increased in the growing economy. Vocational programs were expanded in schools to prepare workers for jobs in areas like manufacturing, healthcare, and construction.

Strengthening Vocational Education: The federal government invested more in vocational education programs to meet the needs of a rapidly changing workforce. Schools began offering more diverse training options, including technical and clerical skills.

Shift Toward Career: In the 1980s, the term career education started to replace vocational education. The focus shifted to preparing students for a broader range of careers, including those in technology and healthcare.

2000s-Present: Modernizing and Expanding CTE:Vocational education continued to modernize, with a focus on integrating technology and offering certifications that employers recognize. Programs are now available not only in high schools but also in community colleges and specialized trade schools.

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A Nation at Risk Report calls for school reform and more focus on STEM education

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A Nation at Risk Report calls for school reform and more focus on STEM education

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The 1983 A Nation at Risk report showed how worried Americans were about falling behind other countries in education. It claimed that U.S. schools were not preparing students well enough, especially compared to countries like the Soviet Union. The report’s strong language, even calling the education crisis an “act of war,” pushed the idea that schools needed major changes. It helped start school reform by focusing more on STEM and job training. Many students, especially from low-income backgrounds, were tracked into vocational programs instead of college prep, making it harder for them to move up in society. At the same time, subjects like history and literature were given less attention, weakening civic education. While the report brought attention to education issues, it also led to a system that prioritized jobs over well-rounded learning.

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Early Democracy: People in early America began participating in decision-making, like town meetings where they discussed laws and how to run their communities.

Declaration of Independence: The idea that people should have a say in how they are governed became a key part of the country’s values, as the U.S. declared independence from Britain.

U.S. Constitution: The Constitution set up a system where people could vote

Expanding Voting Rights: More people, especially white men who didn’t own land, were allowed to vote, making it easier for ordinary people to participate in government.

After the Civil War: The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments gave freedom, citizenship, and voting rights to formerly enslaved Black people (though these rights were often limited in practice).

Women's Voting Rights: The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, greatly expanding who could participate in elections.

Civil Rights Movement: African Americans and other marginalized groups fought for equal rights, leading to laws like the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965), which helped more people participate.

Voting Age Lowered: The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18, allowing younger people to have a say in elections.

Voter Education: Programs were created to teach people how to vote and get involved in politics.

Online Participation: The rise of the internet made it easier for people to organize, learn about politics, and participate in causes online, like with movements such as #BlackLivesMatter.

Youth and Minority Participation: Young people and minority groups became more vocal, with movements like March for Our Lives and climate change activism, pushing for greater political involvement.

Voting During COVID-19: The pandemic made voting different, with more mail-in voting and online organizing. More people got involved in protests and voting, especially focused on racial equality.

Continued Focus on Accessibility: There’s an ongoing effort to make voting easier and to encourage everyone to take part in local and national elections.