(Host) Incoming Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca says he thinks high school students should have more opportunities to learn outside of the classroom.
Vilaseca says rigid college-prep course schedules don’t work for every student’s future plans.
He says one of his priorities will be to loosen some graduation requirements, and allow students to earn credit for experiences in fields they show an interest in.
(Vilaseca) "It would be great for kids early on to have an idea of what they want to do in the future, or at least have some options, and experience those. So, all of a sudden, I want to be a doctor or a nurse, after I spend some time in a hospital I realize this is not really for me. And that helps kids focus their learning to things, number one, that are relevant, while at the same time holding them accountable for the high skills."
(Host) Vilaseca is a native of Cuba, and has worked as a government liaison on agricultural trade missions between Vermont and Cuba.
He is also one of four people who sued the U.S. government last spring to open up visitation rights to the country.
Vilaseca is currently superintendent of Franklin West Supervisory Union, and he will take over as Education Commissioner on January 19.