Below is a description of the Job Corp program from the Dept. of Labor website. This is not a program where a child comes home every evening, they live there. I am familiar with these juvenile detention facilities desguised as camps and they are dangerous and ugly places. There is violence and intimidation among the students, little supervision and the training is substandard because good teachers do not go there. Even if this program did not have the problems it currently has, I resent the suggestion that the government should have the right to remove my child from my home and place him in a facility to be educated and trained. Whatever happened to my child's rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? I also don't see any mention on the website of offering educational opportunities for these kids at the college level. I guess, like in communist countries, only the select few will be permitted to attend college. Is this the future you want for your child or grandchild? I certainly don't.
Job Corps is a no-cost education and vocational training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 get a better job, make more money, and take control of their lives.
At Job Corps, students enroll to learn a trade, earn a high school diploma or GED and get help finding a good job. When you join the program, you will be paid a monthly allowance; the longer you stay with the program, the more your allowance will be. Job Corps provides career counseling and transition support to its students for up to 12 months after they graduate from the program.
Eligibility
To enroll in Job Corps, students must meet the following requirements:
Be 16 through 24;
Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident;
Meet income requirements; and,
Be ready, willing, and able to participate fully in an educational environment.
Funded by the United States Congress, Job Corps has been training young adults for meaningful careers since 1964. Job Corps is committed to offering all students a safe, drug-free environment where they can take advantage of the resources provided.
[question posted by spalladino]responses and comments:
Spalladino, I don't have any children at home anymore but I do have 7 grandchildren and not one of them will in any way participate in the "job corp" program. The only way this will happen will be over mine and my wife and all of our children's dead bodies! America, in her hypnotic trance, is coming the closest she has ever come to electing a communist to the office of president! I do not know how to wake her up and I fear the people who have not come under this Magicians spell will pay the price for the rest's ignorance! Barack Obama may or may not be a muslim but you can be assured of one thing--he is most definitely a communist and seeks to turn this democratic republic into a communist state! [rodney850]
No, what electing Obama will do is make ALL of our fore fathers and founding fathers roll over in their graves! [rodney850]
I do not have children old enough to be eligible for Job Corp but I do not think my kids will be going to these "training centers" anytime soon. Actually let me rephrase that statment to never will I let them go into the job corp. I can help them receive all the training they well every need with out the government taking over my parental responsiblity. [gewcew23]
I am not a parent, but I have studied parenting and developmental psychology, and I am against the government trying to tell people how to raise their kids! I had a difficult time in high school because of other kids, so I ended up having to leave and do homeschooling, but I did go on to get my GED and graduate a year early! So I don't think that this Job Corps is necessary even for troubled 16 year olds. If kids are raised right, by their parents, they will know what they need to do. I knew I wanted to graduate high school, but I knew I couldn't go back and face the bullies and stuff, so I took GED classes at night and took the exam to get my diploma. I then went on to college, I never really thought about going, I just felt like it was an important thing, so I went. Now, I am a recent graduate, and I'm not 100% sure how I will get a job, but I do have career goals, and if I have to get a job to make money to support that career I do have a degree, and may even go back in the future to get a higher degree or technical degree. So from the way I see it, this program takes away people's decisions, it offers an allowance--but is the little bit of support going to make up for the freedom they probably take away? I doubt it. But some people from homes with a lot of kids, or that are very low income may see it as a way to help their families with money. And that is not a fair trade off from what I've heard about this program. I just believe that the parents should be left to raise their kids the best they can, and yes, if there is abuse or something, then there should be an intervention, but otherwise the government has no place in parenting someone else's kids! [greysfreak]
I agree with most of what you are saying here, but the population you are neglecting are the kids with parents who DON'T raise them! It's nice to think that these homes are mediated with state supervision, Youth and Family services or whatever your state calls them, but unfortunately a large portion of homes with neglectful parents go unnoticed. This program would help kids raised in that kind of environment. [soooobored]
Hi Sapalladino, WOW!! You have blown my mind lady! I work for the State Agency "One Stop Career Center" in NJ and have been there for the past 15+ years, first in aiding in training and now in Administration. As an office of employment and training we have many, many contracts with different agencies and schools. Job Corp is one of them and to date I haven't heard of any negativity related to Job Corp. Could it be a state thing? But since the Dept. of Labor is behind it, could it be international or rather world wide? Monday morning, as soon as I get a minute with my supervisor, I will ask about this. She is very down to earth and very professional and she oversees all in-coming contracts and rates them acceptable or not. She could have an impact. Something like this should not be locked away, people need to know these things for their children's benefit. Thanks Spalladino, will keep you informed. ~G~ [gwoman2]
Y son, who is 16, has lived with me all 16 years. He had not seen his father for 2 1/2 years til this July. He went to stay 2 weeks with his dad and then decided he wanted to get to know his dad a little better so he decided to give living with him a try. He moved up to WV from our home in NC the end of july. Within 2 weeks his dad had child support stopped and then on october 5th he enrolled him in Job Corp in DC. WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!!!!! I didn't even know he was there until he called me on october 7th to say he wanted to come home. According to job corp, because his dad enrolled him I can not get him out! Why? I have custody. I think job corp may be a good programn but isnt that kidnapping??? [chadsmom]
Are you sure that you are not talking about the boot camps for troubled kids. I have only heard about good things from Job Corp. A young man I used to work with had an older brother go there, he is now working as an Auto mechanic and he said the program was very good. [Debs_place]
No, just like college is not for everyone, Job Corp is not. It is a personal decision made by the person who will be attending. [Debs_place]
Spalladino, I also worked in a PA one-stop for three years, and my boyfriend worked as youth counselor (ie the man making referrals to the Job Corps programs). You have been SEVERELY misinformed about Job Corps! The nature of government funded programs is that they must speak to people of ALL circumstances. Which means that perhaps you never would consider sending your grandkids to such a program, and perhaps you are right not to? A lot of the students in a Job Corps program have violent histories, and many are there after expulsion from ordinary or alternative school programs. No, I would not recommend a Job Corp program for a high school student with the bright possibility of college. However, there are teenagers and young adults who come from less advantaged households. High school and/or college do not exist as viable options for them. Funding to help these job seekers who hold no GED or valid job skill is highly unstable. For them, Job Corps may be an appropriate choice. That individual would meet with (most likely) a series of counselors to ensure that it IS the appropriate choice. Regardless of any negative press, Job Corps serves a very specific and real portion of the community. Whether you are part of that community or not is irregardless, it is not your place or anyone else's to say that portion of the community should not be served. And (for the record), enrollment into a JobCorp program is strictly voluntary. You never have to worry about the government coming into your home and taking your kids! :-) [soooobored]
Since you have all the answers.....why can my son not leave job corp? I am his legal guardian and I did not sign for him to join his dad who does not have custody did. Job corp Wii not even talk to me. Any answers for that? [chadsmom]
For one thing I am very familiar with the Job Corps. As far as I know there are no problem with the program if there is please tell me because oviously I am unaware of it. Secondly there is no violence in the program because I myself have friends and a brother who have went through it. They do not allow drug deals in the program acholoics etc or violent people into the program. The students that are in this program are students who want to be there and want to learn. IT IS THE STUDNETS CHOICE TO ENROLL INTO JOB CORPS NOT THE GOVERNMENTS. Whoever told you it was the government to choses to take your child away from you is a lie the student who are in this program choeses to be there and they can drop out whenever they want no one is forcing them to be there. If you ask me this is a fantastic program to be in. [babyfirefighter]
I would like to know when and where Barak Obama stated that he will force into the JobCorps 250,000 youths. Especially since the youth applicants are selected by a criterium which does not apply to just anyone. That poster who claims this is anti-government paranoid. [BonnieL]
That wasn't my experience at all with Job Corps. I lived across the street from them in Clearfield, UT, and the police were NEVER there for any problems. They used the kids to monitor behaviors at various public activities (usually parties being held at the Union Pacific train depot in Ogden - they patrolled the parking lots, etc.) I personally know two kids who went there and they thrived there when they were failing in regular public schools. They do operate in a military fashion, but offer a wide variety of training options. The one kids was learning construction. The other, the oldest son of my best friend out there, found he loved cooking, so took culinary classes. Now he's in Iraq - has been in the Army for about 4 years now. He was able to graduate there and loved attending when he hated attending school in Salt Lake. When I was moving from Utah to Arizona and it was just me and my 70 yr old father trying to load everything, I called them and they sent two huge strapping young men over to help - they were great. No disrespect, no problems, no supervision. Dad bought pizza for all of us and we got everything done. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. That's not to say there aren't some centers with problems. But, my experience with the Clearfield Job Corps is that it's a great program and may be the last chance some of these kids have to succeed. They don't usually place them where they're having problems, but they did out there. Also, the kids got to go off-base on weekends - if they lived locally, they could go home. If family came to see them, they could spend time with them on weekends. It's not a lockdown, prison camp like you have presented. Also, they gave all of us front row seats to fireworks on 4th of July (something that was long not celebrated when I first moved to Utah - they celebrate the 24th of July). I think you have it all wrong. I know you have it all wrong. I've seen it first hand and know graduates of the program. [jerzgirl]
Woah - I don't know if Job Corps has changed much in the past 10 to 12 years, but I was in Americorps from late '96 through '98 (I was 24 when I joined), and found that to be a very positive and fulfilling experience. I had taken a retroactive medical withdrawal from my Bachelor's studies, and was only able to bring myself to do so when I found out about the Lowell Neighborhood Service Corps back in '96. I wasn't about to quit college to get a "Mcjob" - but, personal reasons I do not care to divulge here, I was in crisis and needed to "stop the train" so to speak. AmeriCorps was the perfect way to run TO something instead of running FROM something. I of course was dealing with my issues in more substantial and clinical ways, but this program and its staff was very supportive and cared to know and help. Wait... "only a select few will be permitted to attend college"..??? Are you on dru....okay...that's harsh. But, WHAT??? It's not a prison. There are no bars. It's just a JOB, my dear! Not a very well-paying one, but that's because the nature of the program is personal growth, education, and promoting a spirit of community and volunteerism. Neither AmeriCorps nor Job Corps have an "income requirement"! Where on Earth did you hear or see that? In fact, AmeriCorps remits scholarship money to it's members who finish the year, and enroll in post-high school education. Granted - the financial aid office, at least in my experience, was a real pain in the a$$ about it, but the money was theirs to use (and mine as I had earned it!), if they would just have found a couple of brain cells to rub together to get the thing processed. It was, but what a pain. Anyway, you're way off base suggesting this is anything but a voluntary GOOD program that is RESUME worthy. You make it sound like some punitive alternative to jail or something. This is a service oriented program for *upstanding* young people - NOT plea-bargained thugs. It's akin to making honors or getting your varsity letter or whatever. It looks GOOD to have done it. It's not some mandated "big brother" kind of thing. As part of my service, I spent most of my time working with special ed students at a local elementary school. Incidentally, I've been working in "sped" ever since! The door to that came open to me THROUGH this service! Violence and intimidation? Have you been watching too much "LockUp" or soemthing? What on Earth! I honestly think you must have Job Corp/AmeriCorps confused with some DSS or probation department or court or legal something or other. This is a program that's for the same types who would join the Peace Corp or volunteer to be Big Brothers/Big Sisters or similar enriching and uplifting things! Those who would be inclined to insult such a program would say something like it's a bunch of tree-huggers or some ridiculously faux-insulting derision. Seriously - I think you need to make sure you "googled" it right or whatever. [stanwshura]
Ok, Stan, first of all I am not on drugs and do not watch Lockup and, in fact, have enough brain cells to already know that Americorps is a domestic version of the Peace Corps and has nothing whatsoever to do with Job Corp without doing a Google search. I also know that many judges offer enrollment in Job Corp to convicted teens as an alternative to going to a juvenile detention facility. I personally witnessed such an offer during the sentencing of a girl who was convicted of assaulting my daughter in school in 2007 and shortly thereafter the female residents of the center she enrolled in had the pleasure of living with this charming young lady whose criminal record went back to the age of 12. [spalladino]
Is this optional or obligatory? I mean does this take the place of high school or college? It it is mandatory then it would seem to be a curtailment on individual freedom, if it is not then there should be no worries for parents or their children. [underdogtoo]
what a bunch of republican goofballs! Ha! Like the old lady at the McCain rally LOLOLOL! And this is what's left of the party and why there isn't one anymore! Thanks alot G.W. Bush! What can the republican party do for y'all now?? Jog Corps is all about opportunity no one can FORCE anyone to go there ya losers. [mythreesons54]
I am so glad I went through and read this whole discussion before I began to type, otherwise my reply would've made no sense. In defense of Obama, I believe that if the time was taken to do the research it would be clear that he is not attempting to coerce our youth into these programs, and has clarified his position several times since the speech you cite. What he is proposing is that our youth become involved in social service programs and in return they get help with tuition for college, or in the case of Job Corps they get vocational training and rafting instructions, which is not only beneficial to them, but to the country in the long run. I know college kids that have done volunteer work, and not only do they have more compassion and understanding of the world around them, they end up with an experience that looks great on a resume. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the day where your volunteer work doesn't make your resume stand out, I think as a country we should all be involved..and become of nation of solidarity, instead of a nation of the haves and have nots. [soccermom]
How many times is Obama going to "clafiry" his position after the general public has reacted negatively to something he's said? I have no faith in these clarifications when he flip flops on an issue. I don't know about where you live but in Maryland, where I used to live and in Florida, where I currently live, performing a specific number of community service hours is already required for graduation from high school. Wanting our youth to become involved in social service programs, encouraging them to become involved and forcing them to become involved are very different things. [spalladino]
Hello Spalladino, It seems to me that what is being lost in this discussion is the pervasive reality of 'the slippery slope'. I recently responded to a discussion where I pointed out a most absurd example of the 'slippery slope' argument that is frequently applied by massive, slow, cumbersome governmental agencies. That example is: While the majority of Americans support responsible pet-ownership, the very liberal, self-described 'progressive' Albuquerque City Council saw fit, a few years back, to create a law that requires dog owners to purchase 'dog toys' for their pets. This mandatory law is in conjunction with other animal welfare provisions of the law, like providing adequate food, shelter, water and shelter. Though, it mandated the toy requirement to foster an environment where dogs are entertained. Moreover, the law includes a mandatory provision that one's dog must not be subjected to freezing temperatures. The result: many instances where one neighbor 'rats out' another neighbor for violating this ridiculous law. In one instance, a citizen had to take time off from work to attend a legal hearing, to defend against criminal charges that she neglected her beloved dog by leaving him out in the cold. Turns out, we had a severe snow storm, which closed the interstate, and the woman was forced to stay overnight, out of town. She was sick with worry about her dog, yet the law mandates that when the interstate is closed, one cannot travel upon it. Incidentally, in my state, there are a vast number on one-way-in, one-way-out communities, which means that if one can't access our main roads, they cannot get home. This quite typically happens whenever we get severe storms. What's more, a storm can roll in with little advanced notice, because of our airstream conditions. In the end, the woman did not have to pay the fine, which as I recall is $75 or $100. Though, she had to take time off from work to deal with the absurdity, and suffered the additional stress of having to appear for the hearing. There is a VERY GREAT DANGER in allowing government to manadate our lives. We are no longer FREE if we allow government to dicate our personal decisions!!! I believe the "right to choose" argument applies here. If a citizen has the right to choose to have an abortion, then shouldn't that same citizen have the right to choose who, and how parenting, or pet ownership should be undertaken????????? The irony of mandatory volunteerism is no less an oxymoron than is the right to choose, as it has been so hypocritcally applied! [ladyluna]
EG, see # 15 below [soooobored]
The problems you mention with JOB CORPS are typical of all government run organizations. This results from the selection to management process always inevitably becoming politicized. As other respondents have pointed out, some JOB CORPS facilities are admirably run. What the people praising JOB CORPS don't realize is that there is a process of decay in the quality of management of all government run organizations. It just seems to always happen as a result of people trying to expand their empires. As someone of lesser ability finally manages to get above their level of competance, they are always sure to not promote talent as that would make them look bad. How do you maintain your empire if subordinates are more talented than you? As a result, JOB CORPS facilities such as you describe come into being. As a result of this same process of management decay, good JOB CORPS facilities are likely to not remain so. This is inherent in all government agencies. It is inherent that political skills become more important than management skills in most government undertakings. In private industry that can go broke and has a profit motive, the bad empire building only managers are much more likely to be weeded out. In government, these clowns are the boss and on the rise. [redyellowblackdog]
I have a split opinion on this subject. I was once a highschool drop out living on the streets with no money. And I was determinded to get somewhere in life. The promises of Job Corps seemed like heaven. They paid for everything, even a bus ticket there. Yet I soon gave up because I called everyday for two months and they told me the would call me back. I have a close friend in Sacromento Job corps and she loves it there. Everyone is watched and disciplined there. she insits there is no violence and everything is just how she imaginded. Though i had another friend who went to the one in Hollywood. He said the campus was infested with roaches, crackheads, and gangs. So not all of them are Denention Facilities they you have described. Its a haven and a godsend for some of us. After your training if you decide too, the right to go to college is for everyone. Fully paid! So i hope you see jobcorps alittle differently! [HollywoodBarbi]
Ohh i get it now! Thank god. Thanks for the clarifing that! [HollywoodBarbi]
I'm all for kid's getting training to better them selfs in life and Obama speech talked about schools being funded,seems kid's will have to be active in community service in order for the schools to get funded. Obama as I have known is a well groomed politician,he said his mother and grand mother taught him as a very little boy the meaning to serve and service,so he has been groomed in my opinion,and that is why he is now standing at the door of the United States Of American. He has played well the political game,toss a few peanut's to the monkey's, so to speak they will buy it hook,line and sinker. Peanuts in the way funding for public schools, the hook is the kid's do community service,collage student get a $4,000 a year tax credit,hook if they do mentoring two hours per week year around. These two hooks the American people maybe could live with,but his plan he calls change includes forming a civilian national security force which will be larger then our present military. Also every American will provide community services in their towns,Obama said in his July 2,2000 "Call to service" speech no one is to old,there is a job for every person. This is where the danger falls a civilian national security force is no laughing matter. One big Obama fan at this site has just dogged my every step for weeks because I speak out against Barack Obama,I have had to tell her tonight I will take not one more insult,and I mean every word. Because I speak out against Barack obama is not because I'm a racist as I was just called tonight by this Obama supporter,it is because I love my country,and I'm a voting American not with my hand out. Many American's seem to believe Barack Obama has connection with not only anti-American's but the Muslin world,I can say because I don't know for certain,but I do know for certain Obama has two to many Muslims endorsements and idea to suit me,one teaching his own children to hate theri country and white people,SICK!!! I for one American am not in favor of human bondage to my country nor any person,I was born free,untold amounts of blood has been spilled to ensured I remain free and I will not be silent believing some body like Barack Obama educated in the middle east,is going to put me in his human bondage of community service,or his civilian security force policing other people,just not my bag. If I want to serve my community their is so many place I can't begin to count them where I can servean yday of the week. I have raised four fine children,my grand daughter is in collage an a top honor student, majoring in politics,my 23 year old grandson just two months ago graduated from collage with all of his degrees and has a job paying $43,000 the first year and going to $67.000 the next year,we have all worked our butts off to be where we are in life,we pay plenty in tax's and on time, we don't need our government dictating to us, seems one by one our freedoms have been removed from us,enough has been plenty. I will not be silent know Barack Obam's change means I will be put under his bondage doing community service work,Don't think so. I may not speak French but I can very well understand English,and I'm not buying what Barack Obama is peddling. [kennyrose]
Soccermom, I really do appreciate the advice. Since this post I have gone down a star rating, and it is helpful comments like yours that are telling me both why and how, and I would infinitely prefer that to just mindless negative ratings. I apologize if it seems petty to you; to be honest I'm floored. If I were called out on an error, I would correct it. This is not a difference of opinion, it is just a mistake. And of course I feel strongly about it, I worked with and around this program for years, why would I be okay with such a brazen error? So because I can't delete the post, and because I can't force the original poster to admit his error, I'm just going to reply to anyone who reads it and becomes misinformed. Thanks! [soooobored]
Because of the confusion between "Job Corps" and "Green Job Corps" I've started a separate post to discuss "Green Job Corps" at www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1614565.espx If anybody is interested in discussing mandatory volunteerism, that would be a better forum. [soooobored]
Sorry, I just noticed a typo: www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1614565.aspx [soooobored]
My name is Heaven Benson and i am and graduate of Clearfield Job Corps in Clearfield, UT... i personally think that every student should have the opportunity to attend a job corps center. The experience and educational training that i have received there will take me places... I have made lifelong friends and good choices because of Job corps... so do not knock them, just cause you don't know all of the facts... Most of the teachers are wonderful and they are more then willing to help a student out. some of them will even stay until 9pm just to help students out, i should know, my teacher has for me... so do your research before you try saying anything bad about all job corps centers, cause not ALL of them are bad. [heavenlee2]
Does anyone know jop corps rules and reg. b/c my fiance left last week for it and now im worried?!?!?! I have not heard from him in 6 days and that is just not like him. Can someone tell me a bit more of how life is for people who go there he is in shriver job corp. thanks [blawson]
I can't weigh in on the present state of Job Corps, but when I attended Medina, NY's Iroquois JCC, I was fifteen and there was minimal supervision. There were fights, sexual intercourse (straight and homosexual), harrassment and intimidation of students by other students and marijuana use. It was easy to leave the premises and go venturing in the nearby woods (which could be dangerous if you go deep enough within). Me and my friends did one such explore and we saw a cliff with at least a ten foot drop out of which grew wild red apples. Beautiful, but had we got stuck in there come nightfall (when it's pitch dark) we would not have been able to see it and could have fallen in. The food program I participated in was a bust for me. I found the resident supervisors, counslers and other workers to be patient and compassionate. Like a lot of the JCC students, I was in emotional turmoil. A lot of the students that attended when I was there were going through turmoil of their own and that made for occassional head-buttings between students or student against supervisor. At Iroquois JCC there were students who had been raped (not all of them female); had issues with stealing, fighting or addiction and had recently come out of incarceration, etc. Some of the meek and weak were picked on. I came to Job Corps to earn my GED which I did by the time I turned sixteen. I left to attend college--another bust--and when that stint was concluded, I ended up homeless three months later. My mother did not want to be bothered with an angry teenager and I had no other substantial family ties. There are so many reasons why teens and young adults come to Job Corp. They need to earn their GED, learn a skill, are encouraged to join because of behavioral issues, etc, etc. Now, I have to admit that all in all, it was one of the best experiences in my life. I immensely enjoyed my walks along Tibbets Road or whatever road it was and, for the most part, enjoyed the interaction with the students. I met many wonderful people--students and staff--and from them all I learned about the true nature of compassion and how important empathy is. Job Corp helped make me a better person. I hope that nowadays the issues of violence and sexual intercourse among students has been significantly resolved. [penny78]
For those who can't view my original post...here's a less focused version: I can't weigh in on the present state of Job Corp, but I attended Medina, NY's Job Corp Center (JCC) in the summer of 1978 or '79. I was fifteen and there was minimal supervision. There were frequent fights or arguments...and harassment and intimidation of students by other students (even more prolific at Edison Job Corp, according to my sister who went there circa 1984). It was easy to leave the premises and go exploring in the woods that line either side of the road (give or take a few feet of wheat, weeds and what have you). The food program I participated in was newly introduced at the time, and I didn't learn a thing. I came to Job Corp to earn my GED and I did, and six months after my arrival, I was transferred back to NJ. I ended up homeless three months later (for six months in the dead of winter). I told you that because there are a myriad of reasons that teens and young adults end up at Job Corp. They need to earn their GED, learn a trade or skill, or perhaps they are mandated by court. I was in emotional turmoil when I arrived at Iroquois. ...I decided to attend Job Corp. I wanted my GED. I wanted to start over. I wanted to belong. As was the case with me, a lot of the students were struggling emotionally and with various moral issues. All of them wanted change and direction. But the anger and frustration many felt, often caused verbal and physical altercations between students and sometimes against the supervisors. Many of the students had background issues common today.... The atmosphere at Iroquois was pretty decent. The air was fresh, we were given chores like cleaning the bathrooms, laundry duty, washing dishes and mopping (all of which I managed to avoid!!!). Students lived in separate dormitories and each dorm had one or two supervisors. There was security but that never stopped us from sneaking off. The weak and meek did get picked on but usually another student would come to their defense. I guess Job Corp could be seen as a sort of dumping ground for troubled souls, and it is certainly true that some students didn't want to be there. They simply had no other viable option. Some needed an escape and thought (hoped) that Job Corp would be the place to get away from their troubles, to have a breather. Yet, for some it did not happen.... It wasn't a bad trip for everyone. (And it DEPENDED on WHICH Job Corp you went to.) Besides, can anyone truly guarantee safe passage? I have to admit that all in all, it was the most rewarding experience of my life. I immensely enjoyed my walks ... and the interaction with the students and staff. Among them, I met such wonderful people and learned about the true nature of compassion and how important it is to have empathy for others. Job Corp helped make me a better person. It didn't happen right away, but I took from Iroquois, the words of wisdom, the tears shared and the hopes and dreams and applied them to my ways of thinking, my actions and the manner in which I view and treat others. [penny78]
My son actually attended Job corp and it was a great experience. He was not forced to go. Job corp is purely optional. He went on and enlisted in the Navy right after he graduated from Job Corp so it was a great choice. And as far as the comments about PRESIDENT OBAMA! It is obvious that a comment he made has been taken completely out of context. The comment about him wanting to send 250,000 to Job corp....I see all of the negative comments.....Well I have never heard of anyone dying at job Corp....what about the Thousands of young men that Former President Bush have forced and have sent to be slaughtered in Iraq and other countries. It is obvious that everything PRESIDENT OBAMA does will be scrutinized under the microscope of prejudice. Wake up and give him a fair chance......He cant do to much more wrong that than Bush has......Look at the budget crisis that He left for PRESIDENT OBAMA to clean up. Back to the real subject.......Job Corp is a very good program especially for young people who may have had trouble in their traditional school. Also a positive for Job Corp is once they graduate, they actually get a check for approx $1,500.00 - (Maybe a little more or less) but it is at least $1,000.00- When my son graduated from there 3 years ago, he was able to use it to get a car. [strictlybusiness]
I worked for Dept of Labor for many years, when I first heard of this program I thought it was a great idea. Then I talked to many participants......this is not something that I would want for my children or anyone elses. I don't want to go into details but I think that there are a lot of "bad elements" in the program. [playapal]