Phyllis Schlafly had a great column in today's (12/22, p.20) Commentary
Section of the Washington Times on School To Work.  It wasn't posted on
TWT website today but I may be able to pull it up tomorrow in the
Archives.


In it she writes about an organization called CDS International (Carl
Deisberg Gesellschaft) which she calls, "{a} marketing outreach aimed at
governors..."  She mentions a GDS brochure,  "[Which] explains that STW's
goal is to move American children into 'The German Dual System of

Vocational Training' under which Germany tranfers nearly 70 percent of its
students at age 16 from full-time secondary school to spending most of
their time as apprentices in the workplace. National training standards
have been established for each occupation in Germany and company training
is governed by federal law."  According to its webpage CDS has an American
branch. There is a great deal of information about foreign exchange of
students between Germany, Switzerland, the USA and even Singapore. You'll
recall it was another German company which helped establish STW in both
Texas and Maine a few yrears ago.


While the GDS International website isn't as specific as its brochure
apparently is, I have posted its URL for the Loop.


Joan Masters





Workforce Solutions for America's FuturePrograms from U.S. / Programs to U.S. / About CDS / Home    
    
   
  In early 1989, CDS developed a program entitled "Workforce
Solutions for America's Future" which enables American educators,
labor and industry representatives, state and local governments, and
community organizations to investigate and selectively adapt the
experiences of Germany and other West European nations in preparing
skilled workers. The strategy CDS developed concentrates first on
taking representatives from the groups mentioned above on study tours
to show first-hand how different school-to-work systems work.  Since
1989, CDS has administered over 25 study tours for Americans to
Europe. CDS also plans and implements symposia which bring European
experts to the U.S. for consultant purposes. Lastly, CDS has
conducted feasibility studies and helped facilitate the establishment
of demonstration sites to train young people for skilled jobs. A
number of the current state school-to-work initiatives and
apprenticeship programs around the United States originated as a
result of findings on CDS study tours.
  
  Program Objective: To provide American policymakers and
practitioners with an opportunity to view, first-hand, successful
European school-to-work transition and education systems. 
   
Program Dates and Duration: Usually 1-2 weeks. Always customized to
the group's needs. 
   
Number of Prticipants: 8-20 per study tour. 
   
Eligebility Requirements: No requirements. 
   
Responsibility of: 
   
Participant(s) Depends on other funding sources. 
   
CDS Customized program, orientation, transportation, accomondations,
and provides tutor and interpreter for the group. 
   
Partner Organization: Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft e.V., Cologne,
Germany. 
   
For more Information: E-mail or write to "Workforce Solutions" at
CDS.