Education is changing. The nation has come to realize that while the three R’s provide an indispensable foundation, students must also be taught specialized skills that make them attractive to employers.

In Old Orchard Beach, an ocean-front community that depends largely on the hospitality industry, the need is right in front of them ”“ and educators are stepping up to the challenge.

A culinary arts, tourism and hospitality academy has been proposed for Old Orchard Beach High School and the idea has the chamber of commerce, school officials and business owners excited. We’d like to say that we’re excited, too, and hopeful that this project will get off the ground by 2014 as expected.

Trades programs at high schools have been widely successful and give a viable career option to those students who prefer a hands-on learning approach or have specialized interests. Students can learn the basics of carpentry, car repair and other useful skills while still in high school, giving them a leg up when they go to earn an associate’s degree in the field, pursue an apprenticeship or get into the work force.

Unfortunately, the demand has exceeded the supply for these programs and the closest technical center, Biddeford Regional Center of Technology at Biddeford High School, doesn’t have a culinary arts/hospitality program. Such an offering certainly makes sense here, though, in this area full of seaside communities in the gateway to “Vacationland,” so we hope it can come to fruition.

Tourism is a huge part of our economy, and as baby boomers retire in droves, the industry shows no signs of slowing. Having more local people who are knowledgeable about the field will be a boon.

OOBHS already offers two semester-long, elective culinary arts classes that have proven very popular, but students do not have any way to proceed beyond that level at this point.

With the model now under consideration, students would move into a “career academy” as early as freshman year, which would combine academics with career-themed subject matter and project-based learning. As part of the plan, the students would run their own restaurant, learning all aspects of the business.

We hope the community can bring together a committee soon to pursue this plan and figure out how to develop and fund it.

With the cost of advanced education today, it’s not realistic to think that all high school students will be able to pursue becoming a doctor, lawyer or astrophysicist, whatever their intellectual abilities. Gov. Paul LePage has realized this, pushing for schools to prepare students for the world of work straight out of high school. He announced during his campaign that he would like to see high school students take introductory-level college courses, allowing them to spend five years in high school, and graduate with not only their diploma but also an associate’s degree, or two years of transferable college credits. Meanwhile, employers such as the machine tool industry are pushing now for education to match the need in the workplace.

It’s time to move away from the focus on liberal arts and give students real, tangible skills that will get them a job after graduation. This idea for a culinary arts/tourism academy program is a step in the right direction.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.