Experts advocate apprentice programs, citing Swiss experience

Nancy Hoffman, education reform spokesperson, Swiss Ambassador Martin Dahinden and Deputy Assistant Labor Secretary Eric Seleznow described apprenticeships that youths can use in place of -- or at the same time as -- regular academic programs at a National Press Club Newsmaker June 25

"These are much better than complaining about their boredom in high school," Hoffman said. She told of a 15-year-old whose room was a mess and whose parents had trouble getting her out of bed to go to school. Then the teenager learned of an apprenticeship program that changed her life.

"Young people learn to integrate themselves into the adult world," Dahinden said, adding that apprentices can go into placements that go far beyond the trades or unions and can learn such things as dealing with clients and procurement.

"We're not doing as well as we might in preparing young people" Hoffman said, adding that "15- to 16-year-olds can do better than we expect them to." Hoffman is a leader of Pathways to Prosperity, an organization that works in collaboration with Harvard's School of Education.

All three speakers said apprenticeships and classroom training often can be done simultaneously, or moving from an apprenticeship back into the classroom.

Seleznow said the United States and Switzerland will sign soon a Joint Declaration of Intent, based on the Swiss experience. He said the United States had studied the Swiss program as well as that in Germany and other nations.

Dahinden called the Swiss program "a combination of practical learning and classroom training." He said the apprentices earn something while learning, and not going into debt as many college students do. One difficulty, Dahinden said, was dealing with the perception that apprenticeships are an option for someone who has failed to go to a university.

Seleznow said President Obama set a goal of doubling in five years the 375,000 youth now involved in apprenticeships and the number has now grown to 420,000. The administration has a $100 million grant to strengthen the program.

David Hodes of the Newsmaker committee chaired the session.