Mike Rowe testifies before US Senate about the skilled trades

[Baz]

I didn't want this to go to the PARF because I believe there are a LOT more viewers on OT whom could relate to the significance of this video......and hopefully offer their thoughts on the situation. Plus there's no way this topic could be considered offensive or controversial (I hope!)

BTW....I am a landscape contractor but also hold a BS degree in my field as well as spending quite a few beneficial years in corporate sales. But I still think of myself essentially as a tradesman.

I'm very proud of my work and enjoy every moment of it. In fact I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have such a cool and interesting job and wouldn't want to do anything else. Most of you work with your hands - even if only on your car - and can also relate to the sense of satisfaction when you effect a repair and make something work again or just improve it.

Back in the 80's, I spent 5 years as a vocational educator in my field (horticulture) at a local community college. Little by little the college administration cut back on support of mine and all the other vocational programs on our side of the campus...as we entered the digital age. The writing was unfortunately on the wall. Ultimately I left to go into business and have never looked back. But I have very fond memories of helping my students who loved working with their hands and creating beauty find work in this field. I occasionally run into some of them who are still in the area and they are thankful for the training they received.

I thought this to be an excellent presentation and hope you will share it with friends and on your social media if you do as well.

Cheers,
Baz

[djmcmath]

Ok, that's cool. I can support that.

[szyzygy]

awesome, thanks.

You can't outsource plumbing or being a mechanic!

Seems like these jobs are due for a renaissance in the states. So many kids go to college to get stupid expensive degrees, there will be plenty of demand for plumbers and such in the future with few people to fill the positions since all the kids went to college instead.

[Hawktel]

I've already explained to my 2 year old she is going to be a master electrician. And a race car driver.

[Laneco]

My husband, Steve, is a journeyman electrician. At the time he joined the program, it was 5 years of combined classroom/on-the-job training. I believe it 's four years now. He has always felt very strongly this program, and about the chances it gave to people like him. Guys who were willing to work hard, who were good with their hands, but weren't going on to a four year degree.

Steve taught the weekend classes for several years with the 1st and 2nd year apprententices. He's always kept apprentices on the jobsites as well. Not as cheap labor (apprentices make less than journeyman) but to actually teach them the skills they need to do their job, and the tricks to making good work even better.

Mike Rowe is right. We need to recruit people who build things. Not as an "alternative" to college, in the lesser sense that it is offered, but as an equal path which it should be.

angela

[onewhippedpuppy]

Fantastic, simply fantastic. Thanks for sharing. I've always liked Mike Rowe, but my respect for him has grown exponentially. As I've expressed in other threads I believe many college grads would be better served working a trade, and feel that the marginalization of otherwise excellent careers is downright criminal.

[Hugh R]

there are plenty of jobs for skilled tradesman, not those who want a job that only requires your back, like pushing a broom.

[szyzygy]

The only problem with these jobs is that the human body wears down over time. Sucks.

As long as I have my mind, I have a job.

[red-beard]

People need to understand that


You can earn more money if you go to college
But, some people are not bound for college
Even if you get a college degree, you are not automatically going to make more money
Those people who shouldn't go to college, but who do, are going to be dissapointed when they hit the job force.

I appreciate tradesmen who do good work. Unfortunately, I've seen too much bad work; I will not accept bad work.

[szyzygy]

I have also seen a lot of crappy bad work. How can anyone call it a day and submit such rubbage?

I've seen this in the dude who "fixed" a house I bought from the POs who paid this guy to do his so-called "work", as well as among people whose financial models I've inherited. There's billions on the line and the work is sloppy. Sometimes it's hard to sleep at night.

[911boost]

That was great.

I was an apprentice plumber for almost a year before I got into my current field. I cannot even count the amount of times I have used the skills I learned during that relatively short period of my life.

I too have more respect for Mike now.

Bill

[2.70Racer]

It was my fortune to attend Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon over 50 years ago. At this school 13 year old boys were taught a variety of trades ranging from electricians, machinists, sheet metal, welding, automotive, print shop, pattern making, carpentry, foundry, yes this school had a small foundry, electronics, the school broadcast radio station was ran by the students, an aviation shop, a small engine shop, automotive paint and body shop, the school print shop put out a weekly newspaper, plus college prep courses for architecture, engineering, and mathematics.
17 and 18 year old graduates of this school were in immediate demand by local business and industry. Many graduates went on to universities into the hard sciences and have since become the leaders and inventors of our nation.
A school like Benson Polytechnic is way too expensive for most communities today. The role this school played in my life can't be overstated. To get a similar education today, high school graduates are faced with an expensive technical or trade school if it even exists where they live.
Easily half of the students in high school today (boys and girls), would benefit greatly with an education such as I recieved at Benson. The benefit to America is priceless.

[Rick V]

I make my way as a mechanic, and a few decades ago we were payed not only for what we did but for what we knew, things have changed. Case and point, one dealership I worked at gave us all a $.50 raise, then lowered the labor rate and then charged more hours to the customer for set pricing like services and such. We would lose an average of $25 a job. Until the greed (in my industry) stops you will be seeing a lot more guys leaving the field and fewer going into it. There is also, in my state, a serous shortage of state inspectors due to the restraints they put on to acquire the licensing, and the fact that inspectors are now getting sued by people who get into accidents, 4 months after the annual inspection was preformed. Until crap like this is addressed, the gap between competent tradesmen and the hacks is going to widen. I will be glad for the day when I can say I used to be a mechanic. ( I don't like the lofty title of Technician, I am a mechanic, I don't care what the papers and patches say)

[yetibone]

Originally Posted by Rick V

( I don't like the lofty title of Technician, I am a mechanic, I don't care what the papers and patches say)

+1!
I've always considered the job title 'tech' to be a substitute for a title less becoming, like 'oil-change guy', or 'tire installer'.

Thanks for the post Baz.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by 2.70Racer

It was my fortune to attend Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon over 50 years ago.

Benson lives on today; my GFs' son attends; I think the education is watered down compared to what you describe, but I am glad that it still exists.

[Rot 911]

Some Mike Rowe trivia: Rowe sang professionally with the Baltimore Opera. He says about this job:

I joined the opera to get my union card and meet girls. I was a saloon singer, so I went down to the Baltimore Opera and learned an aria and auditioned. I figured I'd do one show and quit. But the girls were everywhere and the truth is, the music was really decent.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by red-beard

People need to understand that


You can earn more money if you go to college
But, some people are not bound for college
Even if you get a college degree, you are not automatically going to make more money
Those people who shouldn't go to college, but who do, are going to be dissapointed when they hit the job force.

I appreciate tradesmen who do good work. Unfortunately, I've seen too much bad work; I will not accept bad work.

Very good point. CAN earn more money with college, not WILL make more money. I know a lot of college grads with generic degrees making $15/hr at menial jobs. That's about where an entry level apprentice plumber starts, with far more earning potential. College isn't the end all be all, and it makes me sick that our high schools are intent on simply pushing everyone to a university.

[kaisen]

What makes Mike Rowe particularly qualified to testify these points to Congress?

(serious question)

[Mark Henry]

A master electrician easily makes over $100k/yr here, so do many other trades. Even if you have a good major once you figure out the cost of education it takes a long time to catch up financially to some of the better trades.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by kaisen

What makes Mike Rowe particularly qualified to testify these points to Congress?

He has a TV show. Sign of the times.