Thomas Edison High School of Technology Tour

Guest Post from Alyce Ortuzar:

Thanks to Education Committee Chair Yvonne Hudson, League of Women
Voters of Montgomery County members were able to tour the Thomas
Edison High School, and we were all impressed. There are internships
and on-the-job training opportunities in Medical Careers; Network
Operations; Print Technologies & Digital Graphics; Architecture and
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Technology; Interior Design; Building and
Construction trades (carpentry, electricity, heating and ventilation
and air conditioning, masonry, plumbing, and sheet metal skills);
Hospitality and Tourism; Restaurant Management; Cosmetology (nail
technology); and Automotive Technologies (auto body repair, dealership
training).

Automotive and construction teachers were especially enthusiastic
about the skills and higher math principles students incorporate from
their hands-on projects. One instructor lamented the short-sighted
decision not to include sheet metal in the new Thomas Edison campus
that is in the planning stages, because the opportunity to learn
important specific mathematical abilities and tools will be lost.

Elaine noted that “the students were all at work stations working
quietly and individually. I was impressed with the respect and
responsibility the teachers communicated to the students and the
independence of the students. It was a stark contrast to the
authoritarian classroom so many schools resemble, with an almost
oppressive environment on movement and independent thinking and
working. Teachers were really facilitators, which I believe in.
Everyone was engaged, and there seemed to be a lot of peer
cooperation. I came out with an exciting feeling about education,
which I haven't had in a while.” She was definitely envious.

Louisa characterized the tour as “a wonderful and informative outing.
Edison is like a gold nugget and needs to shine for more people to see
what a gem we have in the county. No one had a cell phone in hand and
the students were engaged, well behaved, and were learning skills that
can provide job opportunities since many students do not have clear
plans about their future. What a boost that would be for a young adult
to be skilled, employed, self-sufficient, and then possibly in a few
years begin to dream of greater opportunities.”

Ways the community can support these students include patronizing the
beauty shop and the café and donating a vehicle (call the office at
301.929.2181). A fundraising Community Fair planned for Saturday March
16th, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, includes a flea market and silent
auction (12501 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring 20906).

Two of Superintendent Starr’s six Community Days take place Monday
March 11th (Northeast Consortium; Blake, Paint Branch, and the
Springbrook and Sherwood clusters) with a public Town Hall at Blake
High School at 7:30 pm; and Monday April 8th (Bethesda-Chevy Chase,
Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman clusters) with a public Town Hall at
Walter Johnson High School at 7:30 pm.

Although the Information Technology Networking Operations has a
waiting list, other programs are underutilized. Some schools do not
send any students to Edison, and the resources counselor is trying to
find ways around that.

It is important to note that staff and resources at the school have
been reduced, even though the Montgomery County state delegation just
voted to increase the salary of the school board.