In a recent conversation with my colleagues, the topic of college preparation came up. Some said we need to continue preparing all our students for college, but in the next breath, they said we need to do something for the kids who aren't going to college and need hands-on experience.

As I reflect on these two seemingly contradictory statements, I realized that my colleagues are misguided. The old vocational education has changed: Today's career and technical education programs aren't like the industrial era's career and technical education programs.  Career and technical programs are expected to train students with industry-standard tools, materials and software that can be used in the workplace.

Because many professional careers require college degrees, these degrees are simply higher education's version of career and technical education.

After all, colleges are training students with hands-on skills and essential knowledge for a career. The degree indicates the level of training in a career field.

The community college does the same, offering various levels of training. If a person attends a technical school, that's simply a different indicator and model for training. Even the basic high school diploma represents yet another level of training.

In the end, the diploma earned through an advanced graduate degree or license program simply represents a marker along a continuum of learning. If you agree with this logic, then you must also agree that college and advanced degrees are career and technical education.

These higher education programs are providing skills and knowledge that students can use in the workplace. If this is true, then the "shop" classes in the high school are doing the same thing that colleges are -- just at the introductory level.

Once we understand this, we really need to ask ourselves why we have seemingly two paths in our high schools: college prep and career tech.

I'll use myself as an example. I personally love blue prints, maps, buildings and land development. I have enjoyed working on the design of three high school projects and their classrooms. I would have made a great architect.

But, I did really well on the state tests when I was in 7th and 8th grade, so I was directed into college prep classes. I took honors English all four years of high school, but failed my community college entrance test.

I was blindly placed in college prep classes rather than the drafting and woodshop classes. Who decided that if I took those "shop" classes, I would be steered away from going to college? I think it was the traditions that the counselors were following that lead me away from that industry.

Today's high school career and technical education programs are just the first step to lucrative careers in our communities. In most cases, students are inspired to do well on state tests and pursue more training in college.

As a matter of fact, the research indicates that students in high school career and technical education classes perform stronger academically and complete their degrees at a higher rate than those in traditional college prep programs. So, I propose that instead of separating career and technical education from college preparation, we should make all high school programs combine the two. 

After all, doesn't college prepare students for careers?