Governor Arnold Visits East Bay High School!

Governor Schwarzenegger toured Mount Diablo High School in Concord on Monday afternoon, putting the spotlight on vocational education.

Accompanied by Education Secretary Richard Riordan, the governor observed district academies for the performing arts, multimedia and culinary studies, where the school choir sang and student soloist David Chavez performed. The Governor then saw the Digital Safari academy and heard from students about their multi-media projects. He paid special attention to the school's culinary arts program, which gives students hands on experience in the restaurant business.

The classes, Schwarzenegger said, reminded him of a valuable program for sales skills he attended as a youth in Austria. Speaking to the enthusiastic students, the actor-turned-governor said he wants to expand vocational education, but he didn't say how. He also said that programs like the one at Mount Diablo should be duplicated around the state.

"What I want to have is what you do here … all over the state," Schwarzenegger said. "Expand on the programs because vocational education is extremely important."

"I’m proud of you all for everything you are doing," the Governor said to students and faculty during a roundtable discussion. "You are preparing for success and showing everyone the value of a first-class Career Tech program."

"I know firsthand how vocational training can help anyone in any profession," the Governor told student while discussing his own vocational training in sales while he was a student in Austria. "That’s why I have proposed education reforms to expand Career Tech, to give it the respect it deserves so more kids get more options and more success."

At the high school’s nationally recognized International Hospitality and Tourism Academy, Governor Schwarzenegger held a roundtable discussion with pupils and presented teacher Judy Moon with a resolution recognizing her outstanding achievements in vocational education.

"I was blown away by what your director, Judy Moon, showed me (today)," the Governor told students. "You were all preparing hard for your careers to be master chefs or restaurant managers. And your teachers were doing some things that I thought were really creative like integrating your career tech education with core subjects like science and math and combining world history with lessons on ethnic cooking."

During his discussion with students, the Governor spoke of the priority he gave education in his 2005-2006 state budget. "To me, nothing is more important than education," he said. “That’s why we are spending billions more on education this year to support the kids, the schools and the great programs like you have here." Governor Schwarzenegger gave education the largest increase in his budget with funding going up by $2.9 billion.

After the roundtable discussion, pupils took the Governor on a tour of the Serendipity Restaurant & Bakery. "If any of you learned how to make a good schnitzel, come see me after class," the Governor joked. The student-run restaurant is open to the public three days a week and serves entrees such as duck and gouda quesadillas, marinated tri-tip medallions and chocolate torte for dessert.

Global Arnold Staff