MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) --A new program at the Monroe County Vocational Technical School has students researching criminal trials. The school is participating in a new
pilot program that offers a Law and Public Safety course to its students.
On Wednesdays the students take physical training before they hit the books to prepare them for the physical job in public safety.
Tenth grader Chloe Parker is the only female in the the new program.
She said she is not intimidated by the men.
"I'm sassy," said Parker. "So it's not really that bad. I've always been the only female in a lot of things that I'm interested in because its a male dominated career choice."
The program teaches the students about four the court system, law enforcement, fire and emergency services, and the military.
Instructor Brian Flanner says his experience in all four sectors has prepared him to offer the students a balanced approach to each field. He said with the changing economy, students can use this course to determine their future before leaving high school.
"I think this is gearing them to have that background knowledge of whether they want to pursue it after high school," said Flanner.
The school is one of seven schools in the state participating in the pilot program.
"It will go through a process of about three years in what's called a pilot phase and from there it will go into just the traditional type courses," said Steve Cantrell, director.
Right now leaders are writing a complete curriculum for the class that will hopefully spread to other districts.
