Thank you for publishing Professor William G. Durden's commentary ("Creating a credible alternative to college," Jan. 1).
Technical schools are a great alternative to high schools and are very popular in Europe. Poland, for example, has many, offering 50 different technical majors (few at any particular school) from auto mechanics, plumbers to cosmetology and culinary arts. They offer dual curriculums with an emphasis on a chosen profession. All are 5-year public school programs with apprenticeships included.
With a huge high school dropout rate, programs like that would offer many young people a great employment future in the U.S. College education is commendable, but not everyone can afford it or is able to attend. This often leaves students unprepared for the workforce.
How can we start the process of instituting such alternative schools in this country?
Blima Ritterstein, Owings Mills