l
EDUCATION
NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL
that's the kid we're trying to produce,"
Erpelding said. "That world could be
my community, my neighborhood – but
change the world."
Compared with standard public
school classes, education looks very dif-
ferent at Design39. Students are pushed
to research and create, to use a variety of
resources to answer challenging ques-
tions, and to learn from failure. Memo-
rization is low on the list of priorities.
"Everybody has access to knowledge
now – it's called the Internet. We don't
need knowledge-keepers any more," Er-
pelding said. "Yes, they need to have the
content knowledge, but they need to
know how to create something that isn't
created yet. And that takes a whole dif-
ferent educational experience.
"Employers don't just want factory
workers, they want people who say,
'What can I do with my skill set and tal-
ent to make this prod-
uct even better?' That
doesn't just happen
when you graduate
from college; it happens
in kindergarten. But
then it's taught out of
them," Erpelding said.
With 13 campuses
throughout the county –
including elementary,
middle and high schools in North
County – High Tech High espouses simi-
lar principles in its approach. A public
charter school drawing students from
across North County, the San Marcos
campus regards its students as "aspiring
young professionals," fosters project-
based learning, and promotes real-world
experience as often as possible.
A few miles east, educators at The
Classical Academy High School focus on
promoting a culture of excellence, in-
volvement and personal responsibility,
said executive director Cameron Curry.
"The Classical Academies are keenly
aware that we play a part in strengthen-
ing North County's economic vitality in
a way that differs from traditional public
education," Curry said. "Our personal-
ized approach to each student, the focus
on character and leadership allows each
student to see and reach their potential."
Curry, who previously worked in eco-
nomic development for the City of Es-
condido, said he has found that many
companies assess the educational cli-
mate when considering a region: "Talk
to me not only about real estate, but also
education," they say.
At the university level, administrators
have made moves in recent years to
strengthen the bonds between North
County high schools and Cal State San
fi
At MiraCosta College, our students are
inspired to dream more, learn more,
do more, become more.
Learn about some recent graduates
by visiting miracosta.edu/meet.
ey are tomorrow's
business leaders.
Today, they are ready
to work for you.
>> VISIT MiraCosta
College
>> VISIT Design 39
Campus
>> VISIT High
Tech High
>> VISIT The
Classical Academies
>> VISIT CSUSM
LEARN MORE
