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Students need training for high-tech jobs
by David Frey
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tennessee is poised to jump into a new century of high-technology jobs, but the state could get left behind if it fails to train its young people and its work force, one lawmaker said Tuesday.

"I'm very concerned about that," said U.S. Rep. Bob Clement, D-Tenn. "Other states in the Southeast are doing better than Tennessee, and if we're not careful, we're going to be at rock bottom. We have to do everything we possibly can to reinforce our education system."

Clement hosted his 11th annual Economic Summit at Nashville's Regal Maxwell House Hotel. Called "Partnerships for Technology," the conference brought together state business and government leaders to discuss the impact of new technology on the state. It was organized by the Washington, D.C.-based Public Forum Institute, a nonpartisan public policy group.

Robbie K. Melton, assistant vice chancellor for academics and technology for the Tennessee Board of Regents, challenged the state to commit to "training teachers and professors" on how to effectively use technology.

"We hear about a lack of funding, but that is not an excuse," Melton said. "We need to develop a strategic plan to make sure every teacher, every professor, every day care worker has the skills and knowledge to use technology as a tool."

But just because Tennessee has not specifically earmarked funds for high-tech education does not mean dollars are not being spent there, said Jackie Shrago, director of the state's ConnecTENN project, the network that connects Tennessee schools to the Internet.

Shrago said Tennessee was the first state to hook up every school with the Internet - and tied with Maine, it has more schools online than any other state. Since 1996, Tennessee has had all of its public schools online. Now, it has 75 percent of all of its classrooms connected to the Internet, she said.

At first, Shrago said Tennessee students averaged five minutes a week on the Web. Now, it's up to three hours.

"I think for the first time people in Tennessee are beginning to recognize that their children are facing the competitive world," Shrago said.

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