Our public school system includes "vocational education
centers." Virtually every town in New Hampshire is a member
of an area vocational school where any student can attend. Vocational-Technical
schools are schools of choice and they have separate school boards.
They are very similar to chartered public schools as students have
full public funding. Vocational technical high schools add and
delete programs to stay current with job market needs and student
interests.
It's in our vocational school statutes that "agriculture" industries
be considered for vocational training and the lucrative equine
industry is the largest agricultural industry in New Hampshire.
Clearly equine pursuits are a passionate interest for hundreds
of students, judging from the outpouring of interest from students
across the state.
The newly-approved New Hampshire Equestrian Academy offers a college
education along with its equine studies program. The new program
is entrepreneurial and fits with NH's vocation high school scheme,
offering publicly-funded opportunities where students can train
for careers. Most career training takes place in shops where the
equipment of a particular industry is made available. The equestrian
school needs horses and stables; it will open on the grounds of
an equine hospital so state-of-the-art training will be right there.
It's understandable that this program, with its unique facility
needs, is not available through most high schools.
New Hampshire is well suited for small farming businesses. And
with dozens of students writing in to attend, the program clearly
is addressing student interests. So what's the fuss?
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