Pence wants return to vocational training

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Republican Mike Pence made his first major policy announcement in the race for governor today. Pence has an idea that, he believes, will permit employers to find more workers and high school graduates to find more jobs.

Only 1 percent of high school graduates in Indiana get a degree with technical honors. Pence stood below a pie chart spelling out that statistic as he made a call for alternative classes by 2014 that would amount to job training.

"The time has come," he said, "to make vocational education a priority in every high school in Indiana."

Democrat John Gregg agreed with a need for more vocational education as he endorsed Kay Fleming, his party's candidate for attorney general. But he wasn't about to give Pence any credit, criticizing him for voting against education funding proposals in Congress.

"I'm glad he's finally announcing something," Gregg said. "I hope he tells how he pays for it. This is the first thing I know he's announcing since he's been a candidate."

In fact, the Pence plan has no price tag. The employers and educators who appeared with him suggested that private industry would help pay for new classes.

“So we're going to bring employers and educators together," Pence said, "to solve this problem, and,I got to tell you: Trust me. Employers are ready."

Pence suggested that a change in education priorities is called for because Indiana ranks third in the number of high school graduates in the work force. He even produced statistics that show how some technical workers make more than college graduates.

Pence was careful to avoid criticism of the leadership that now emphasizes college preparation. He said he still believes that anyone who wants to pursue college should have that opportunity. The others, he said, should have the ability to start a career after high school.