View on career-focused education

This post comes from the Opinion section of USA Today's blog. As thousands of eighth- and ninth-graders in Florida, South Carolina and Mississippi head back to school, they are being asked to make a choice that was once reserved for higher education: declare "majors" to pursue during their high school years.

How, you might wonder, can kids who can barely choose their favorite pizza possibly lay out their life paths? After all, many college students — and graduates — struggle with that decision. On closer examination, however, what sounds like an outlandish idea actually makes some sense, as long as it's flexible and doesn't detract from basic studies.

One reason so many students drop out of high school is that they don't see a connection between their school work and life beyond high school. Early matching of talents and interests can strengthen that connection.

Moreover, careers have changed. Many traditional blue-collar jobs, such as mechanic or chef, now require post-high school training. That takes preparation. Many high-level white-collar jobs require students to take algebra as early as eighth grade. That takes planning. Click here to read the rest of this piece.