Vocational education has always been an important part of our educational systems. There are a variety of skilled trades and other occupations that have required specialized training beyond the regular high school curriculum and outside the typical education offered in college. From automotive repair to the construction trades to various medical and dental occupations to public safety, vocational and technical training equips people for jobs important to our economy that have the potential of paying good wages.
Vocational training was discussed as part of the Youngstown schools curriculum but didn’t get under way in a serious way until the late 1950’s following a gift of the C. C. Choffin estate to establish a vocational school. Originally, the Choffin Center occupied the old Wood Street School, built in 1912. Plans were laid in the 1960’s for construction of a new Choffin Career Center, occupying five acres at the corner of E. Rayen Avenue and North Walnut, in front of the old Choffin Center, which was to be demolished.
The July 15, 1973 Youngstown Vindicator ran an article on the new center titled “Choffin School to Open New Vocational Center in Fall.” The article announced that the new Career Center, which would open on September 5, 1973 would serve 1,100 students who were juniors or seniors in Youngstown’s high schools. The cost of the building was reported at $7,452,175 (approximately $50 million in 2023).
Class sizes were limited to 25. Students were bussed from their home high school and back. Juniors would have classes from 8 to 12:15 and then go to their high school for English and history courses. Seniors started the day with classes at their high school, starting classes at Choffin at 11:15, and running until 3:30 pm. Three hours were shop or lab classes and an hour and a half were theory.
The new courses being added with the opening were: account clerk, auto body, advanced secretarial, building maintenance, carpentry, cement trades, child care, commercial art, community home service, data processing, diesel mechanics, high skill stenography, industrial electricity and electronics, medical assistants, nurses aides, office machines, radio, television and small engine repair.
These were in addition to continuing courses in: appliance repair, auto mechanics, cook-chef, cosmetology, dental assistant, distributive education, drafting, machine shop, trade dressmaking, and welding.
Fifty years later, this facility is still serving both Youngstown students as well as adults as the Choffin Career and Technical Center, offering updated versions of some of the same courses as well as a number of new courses reflecting advances and changes in technology. Today’s programs are organized around five academies:
- Skilled trades: Auto tech, construction, and welding
- The Arts: Interactive app and game design, music production and recording, and video and audio broadcasting
- YouMed: Dental assisting, fitness, health and wellness, medical office and business management, physical therapy and athletic training, allied health.
- Business: Business entrepreneurship and barbering, cosmetology, culinary arts, digital graphic design and imaging, early childhood education
- Public safety: Criminal justice, EMT, firefighting, telecommunications (911 dispatch)
In addition, they provide adult training in practical nursing, dental assisting (Choffin is one of two programs in the state of Ohio that has received National Accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association), and surgical technology.
At one time, vocational training was seen as an alternative to college. While that is still true for some students, for others, the training is the first step to college, particularly for those entering STEM-related fields. What is clear is that fifty years on after the new Choffin Center was opened, it continues to serve Youngstown students to accomplish three goals:
- I will graduate on time
- I will earn industry credentials
- I will be career & college ready
I went to Choffin for Trade dressmaking in 1960-61. I took a city bus from Chaney, where I had morning classes, to Choffin for afternoon classes in dressmaking. It was a privilege to attend this much needed school and I loved going there. I went on, after graduation, to take tailoring classes from Penn Ohio junior college. While at Choffin I made many friends with the other girls from the high schools in Youngstown. I’ll never forget all that I learned from Mrs. Grabel.
I graduated from Choffin School of Practical Nursing in February 1973. This enabled me to work while attending YSU, studying to be a Registered Nurse. I got the best education at Choffin! Years later, that full year of study was recognised by Central Queensland University allowing me entry to their Master of Critical Care program.