From: Betty Madsen    To: 'Deepa Willingham' ; 'Patterson, PE John'
Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 10:18 AM

Subject: Update on Careers4teens

Good Morning John and Deepa! I wholeheartedly endorse this type of program! I have worked with young people who leave school as “failures” because they do not fit into academic slots. They leave many of our high schools with worthless diplomas and no prospects for earning a living and no money or academic skills (they believe) to succeed in college. The bigger question, for me for years, is why do they have to wait until they “graduate” to go on to junior college to learn a skill? Why do my tax dollars have to support this? Well, I’ll get off my band wagon because I could go on and on. I am most passionate about the waste of these youthful years when children are still excited about learning something! Some of our youth are better at learning hands-on skills versus academic skills. When these hands-on youth hit the academic barriers in high school and either flunk out or give up, they are “lost”.

I’d be most happy to talk with you about this. Betty