quote:
Why can't our high schools provide some of the hours necessary to get started in a trade? Why can't we have a building trades program to develop skills to earn a living in out booming construction industry over the course of 3 or 4 years of high school?
When I was in high school, we had a building trades program that built and sold a house every year with students spending a half day every day working under or with master tradesmen (who worked with the ISD on either a paid or volunteer basis- not sure which- it was in the 80s after all) to identify areas they want to develop marketable skills and then develop those skills as well as network with local contractors who might want to hire them for summer or post graduation employment. It was a great program and the houses were finished out very well- custom cabinets and trim, high end finishes and thoroughly inspected craftsmanship by code enforcement and the instructors. The proceeds from the sale of the house funded the next house.
Restoring half day vocational programs would do wonders for helping our high school graduates have a diploma that actually helps them get employed if they're not college material.
If someone from UTI or TSTC applies with me and I give them a job, guess where they start?? Master tech? Mid line tech? Or entry level tech? Hint, it is not Master or mid line, they still start at entry level.
Why waste 2-3 years and over 20K in debt when you can start at the exact same spot with the same free general knowledge you get from Auto class at HS??
After taking the plumbing class at TSTC for plumbings get you Journeyman level after one year. You can almost be there by working for a year under a master plumber. Again same as above, logic is not there to spend all that cash, all that time, when you can get PAID while learning the exact same thing.
I understand your basic principal and perception of why it should be that way, BUT perception does not always equal reality.
Sometimes, if you do not want to go to college, hard work and determination gets you the exact place, in the same amount of time, for less money, less aggravation of going to school.