[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

I have a friend that is the auto shop teacher at a high school. He knows this issue very well. We were discussing this last night.

He said that the school districts are run by people that haven't worked in a trade, so they have no clue about the value of the trades. The administrators think that everyone should go to college, which just isn't the case, nor should it be.

That's from the front lines, and its sad that its happening.

Yup. There's certainly an "educated elite" attitude that many teachers have, and your future is college or nothing.

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I'll chime in here as a middle-aged journeyman-level skilled tradesman. I actually agree with the decision to eliminate shop classes for young people at the high school level. I believe that there are so many, better career choices and paths in todays global economy that it would be almost a diservice to not replace those with classes with training for this modern era.

I can tell you as an extremely motivated young guy in high school in the late 1970's that shop class was integral part of my career path. I grew up in a rural area and skilled tradesman were looked up to and valued. Their expert opinion and skilled hands were at utmost respected and financially rewarded. They had real, solid careers and retirement. But that was then.

We, as Americas labor force today, are faced with an ever rapidly changing supply vs demand in career paths and skill sets in the new (current) global economy. We should be preparing our kids for a solid future not sending them down a path circa 1950's industrialized America.

I just left the auto business after over 30 difficult years. I personaly know many other highly skilled tradesmen my age or near it in HVAC, construction, engineering, electrical and plumbing. They all are in the same boat as me. Tired, disgusted, no respect, no future, no money and for sure......no future.

There are a vast number of very skilled people in this nation who are under-employed or not employed in the industries where their skills apply. Time to re-evaluate. As some here know I was a Euro Technician. My new career is a network analyst for a large county government.

While I respect your experience, I can assure you that college is also not a guaranteed ticket to "the good life". I know a good many individuals that received generic college degrees that are toiling through life at mediocre jobs that they hate. My wife's cousin got a Business Management degree and ended up as an assistant manager at Target, working alongside cashiers that had been promoted into management based on performance. Is it worth $50k+ worth of college debt for that? I also know a good many working in SKILLED trades (not basic roofing or carpentry) that are making very good livings.

There are many jobs in our society that can't be outsourced and can't be performed by illegal labor. People will always need plumbers, electricians, auto techs, etc. Because college is being pushed so hard to high school students the need for these jobs will only increase as the current workforce retires.