A32-Lancuter Fanning, Saturday, Fibruary 17,1990 Kutztown’s Vo-Ag Benefits (Continued from P«go A 1) school board on Monday, showed 30 students in Agriculture 1-4; 20 in Ornamental Horticulture; 12 in Small Gas Engines/Welding; and five taking non-ag majors. Karr also said that there seemed to be a stigma associated taking vocational agriculture and that the curriculum needed to be updated to reflect today’s industry. A lack of qualified agriculture instructors is another difficulty that plagues the program, accord ing to Karr. In light of these difficulties, Karr offered three options: a change in the number of instruc tors; integration of the program into other classes such as science and business; and sending ag stu dents to another school system. Although no district was named during the meeting, published reports have mentioned the ag program at Hamburg Area High School as a possible choice. Ham burg is a 20-minute drive from Kutztown. After Karr’s presentation, die floor was opened for other speakers. Among the 14 allowed, were state officials, educators, business men, graduates, parents, and stu dents; all supporting the continua tion of vo-ag at Kutztown High School. One of the audience who didn’t have an opportunity to speak was vo-ag teacher Reinert. Reinert, who has taught at Kutz town since 1965, doesn’t agree with Karr’s assessment of the program. “Ideally we would have two full time teachers for the Kutztown program,” he said. “From the time I started, until a couple of years ago, we did have'two positions. Then, when Christine Williams (the other teacher) resigned, they reduced her position to half time status,” Reinert explained. Reinert conceded that the board has had a tough time locating qual ified candidates, but points out that it’s more a problem with process than with a tight job market “When I gave notice that I would be taking a sabbatical in March of last year, the position opening was advertised in the local papers,” Reinert said. “But when I attended the National Vocational- Agricultural Teacher Association Region 6 conference in May, I found out that Penn State had not been contacted so they could post the opening for graduating seniors to see. I explained to the admi nistration that Penn State needed to be notified and a secretary made the call,” he said. The result of the phone call is unknown. However, Reinert said some people were interviewed. “They (Kutztown officials) did have at least one qualified candi date interview here. He also inter viewed at Oley (school district in Berks County). A week or so after the interview, Oley offered him a job. He called Kutztown but they told him they hadn’t made a deci sion so he took the Oley position.” Reinert said. “A number of other candidates were interviewed, but the board couldn’t find anyone they felt was suitable, so they put Dr. Cal in the position.” he said. “A number of qualified candi dates were due to graduate this January so the board agreed to advertise again. I saw the ad in the Morning Call (an Allentown news paper) and the Kutztown Patriot, but when I talked to Dr. Scanlon (an ag education professor at Penn State) I found that they hadn’t been notified.” Karr confirmed that Cal was hired for the first half of the school year with the understanding that another candidate search would be done in January. According to Karr, the search was done, but no suitable candidates were found. In contrast to statements made Monday by Karr, Reinert said that the ag department curriculum is constantly being updated. “While doing research for the meeting, I came across a county superintendent’s bulletin stating that a whole new curriculum was being developed in southeastern Pennsylvania, emphasizing that agriculture was no longer just pro duction work. The bulletin was dated 1969.” According to Reinert, the ag program was the first one in the school to use the computer. “We were working with compu ters in 1971. We started with a bus iness simulation using the compu ters owned by businesses in the community. I took my own per sonal computer in and we had the first IBM in the building,” Reinert said. “My computer is still there, and if another teacher has a problem with computers. I’m one of the fust ones that gets asked,” he said. The Kutztown Ag Advisory Council helps keep the ag program current. ‘The advisory council reviews our curriculum. The latest revision of the curriculum was completed in July of last year and the advisory council is waiting to review it,” Rcincrt said. “A core curriculum for agriculture is in the develop mental stages at the state education department in Harrisburg, and die council wanted to see that, before giving final approval,” Rcincrt explained. Advisory council member Dr. Sam Yoder, a local veterinarian, was able to share his feelings dur- Manure management systems to match your kind of livestock, type of manure ...and economics “PLAN NOW for 1990 Construction” Contact us to discuss your MANURE MANAGEMENT PLANS PO * 6’-8’ * 50’ ' • Ingn re 1 Sollenberger Silos Corp. A Nilterhouse Company I Bo* N Ch»mbor»burg, PA 17201 1717]2M-95M ■ SINCE BEFORE 1910 •,p^ Association, tells school board members that many adults and students asktng for nothing more than education in the nation’s number one industry, agrlcußure. ing the meeting. He suggested that feicultarc - responded to * quote the administration and department that ag,is not trendy, that was attri need better communication. buted td Karr in a local publica “l feel that the administration is tion. Karr Taler denied making that alienated from the deportment,” statement. Yoder said. “It has been suggested "Agriculture is the number one that ag is not port of the computer industry in Berks County and in age. Computers are an important Pennsylvania,” Bitler said. ‘lt is port of ag and they are part Of the not a dying vocation. One pcfton curriculum” in five is employed in jobs that are Yoder said he also felt junior ag dependent” high school students need more Bitler added that during the the .exposure to the ag program. four years that Ag in the Claij- Phoebe Bitler - the Berks Coun- room had been available, riot ohe ty coordinator for Ag in the Class- Kutztown teacher had ever been room, and a former National involved in the program. Office Number • 717-264-9588 For Upright Silos Call For Bunker Silos & Manure Systems Bob Francis Call Tabb Justus or Mike Hair 717-532-6848' 717-762-8683 717-263-0792 Evenings here are (Turn to Pogo.AM)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers