In this narrative, combining elements of autobiography and of argument, I set out to do three things. First, I tell a story of one young person's journey into teaching (and, in due course, into teacher education). It's my story of my journey, but I hope it can shed a little light on others' journeys and on the possibilities for such journeys.…

On-farm processing of value-added dairy products can be a way for small dairy farms to diversify production and increase revenue. This article examines characteristics of three groups of Vermont farmers who have grass-based dairy farms--those producing value-added dairy products, those interested in such products, and those not interested in such…

Purpose/Objectives: The number of Farm to School (FTS) programs is increasing across the United States. These programs employ a variety of school-based initiatives including, but not limited to, local procurement for the school nutrition program, nutrition education in the classroom, hands-on and garden-based learning, and community partnerships…

Background: Recent efforts to prepare healthcare professionals to care for patients/clients with substance use problems have incorporated SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) into graduate education programs. This pilot study adds to the literature by examining the impact of an SBIRT interprofessional education approach…

High-quality family childcare (FCC) can positively influence all areas of a child's growth and development. Thus, it is important to invest in efforts to increase quality, including providing professional development to enhance the skills of those caring for children in their homes. This study explores the characteristics of FCC providers who…

Few industries are as critical to the U.S. economy as transportation. Skilled automotive, railroad, and airline technicians shuttle the goods and people that drive every aspect of domestic and international commerce. The transportation sector offers some of the most exciting opportunities for workers to address critical issues of this time:…

John Dewey was inspired by what he termed "the miracle of shared experience and shared communication." His faith in the power of individuals working in democratic association also included warnings of a darker side, the "monstrosities" that individuals can become when they live and work in isolation from others. In this…

At Southern Vermont College (SVC) and at the nation's other colleges and universities, Anatomy and Physiology I (A&PI) is the gateway course into healthcare careers. Disturbingly, at SVC and elsewhere, many first-year students interested in healthcare careers do not succeed in this course. They withdraw from the course or the institution, or…

An epidemic of career camps is spreading across the nation and offering a unique alternative for students during the summer. These camps, usually geared toward middle and high school students, hope to spark interest in careers for youth during their formative years. This article describes one of the most popular of these: health career camps. One…

Schools throughout New England face a common problem: a shortage of teachers who are fully qualified to teach science, mathematics, special education, bilingual education, foreign languages and English. Shortages are expected to spread soon to other teaching fields due to a second common problem: New England has the oldest teaching force of any…

Gender equity initiatives in education have been launched in the state of Vermont in an attempt to level the playing field in gender-specific programs, but when it's all said and done, the question on the progress in career and technical education still remains. This article shares personal experiences of two students at Vermont's Stafford…

This article describes a successful model used in international service-learning projects that integrates economic development and ecological improvement. The principles of the model are discussed, including commitments to maintain partnerships over time, emphasize the transfer of knowledge from one generation of students to the next, start small,…

A middle-school French teacher describes her frustrated efforts to discipline students and plow through the curriculum. She finally realized her job was not to dominate her classroom, turn out French scholars, or win a popularity contest. She settled for helping a few kids "beyond this point." (MLH)

Describes teacher certification in private schools, noting tension between private schools and state regulations. The article examines experiences with and reactions to state standards by Vermont and Michigan private schools. It discusses alternative teacher certification, alternative student assessment, and teacher professionalism as means of…