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In the opening paragraph, the article states the the Skills Centers in the Duval County School system were intended for students with discipline problems. But when I was in school in Duval County, they were never presented as "Alternative" schools in that nature. They were always presented as trade and career training schools. In fact, in the sixth grade as part of learning about careers we took a field trip to Westside Skills Center, which Peterson was called. The programs they offered were what you would expect in a trade school: plumbing, electrical, law enforcement, welding, cosmetology, mechanics, etc. and we were encouraged to consider signing up to go once we were in high school, and we were an honors class! This was in 1990-1991, long before Peterson became a full fledged school. When I was in high school, again when it was simply the "Skills Center", I knew people that went there, and they weren't discipline problems or at a prison. They went half the day to the Skills Center and the other half at their local school. As they progressed, many actually went the entire day, and received instruction part of the day, then went to work in their trade, with a local employer. I'm sure many people that participated in this program probably didn't have the aptitude to be on a traditional college bound track, and strict discipline was kept at the Centers as was every other school in the district back then. However, it is unfair to categorize the skills centers as "Alternative Schools" or "Prisons" or the students as having behavior problems. It was, and still is a pretty good deal for someone that wanted to learn and pursue any the trades the Skills Centers offered. Furthermore, the district has actual alternative schools for students that have gotten into discipline problems, such as Darnell Cookman, which later was turned into an academic magnet middle school, Mattie V. Rutherford, and Grand Park. So I see this characterization of the Skills Centers as schools for students with discipline problems as misleading. Perhaps someone with more concrete information then just my memory of these things can clarify the history of the Skills Centers. Subwayatrain (talk) 22:57, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
100!! My 16 year old attends now for communications academy! It is amazing what this school does for our community to be work and professional ready! Sarahrain68 (talk) 23:13, 11 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]
