Trade schools

[LadyGodiva]

I was wondering how many of you learned your 'skill' or area of expertise through a trade school.

I've been tutoring high school and college kids (trust me, it doesn't take much to tutor some of these kids), and recently recommended trade school to some of them. One parent called me and told me off for recommending this to her son. The way I see it is that he is not ready for college! He doesn't have what it takes to spend the next 4 years in a classroom. He's told me this before, but his parents wouldn't hear of it. They've got this notion that you have to be a dummy to go to trade school. I believe that in time their son 'might' decide on college, but for now, he's interested in carpentry... and why the heck not?

I'm recommending that my son and daughter take classes in trade school as well as attend college when the time comes. I'm now learning to sew (intermediate level guys), and I can't begin to tell you the satisfaction I get from making an outfit for my daughter or something for my son, my mum or dad. I loved my time in College, but all I have are papers that I wrote and a degree that said I finished whatever I studied there. I can't make anything with it!

In May, I'm planning on taking a masonary class (in the hope that I could learn to build a pond, fix the driveway etc) with my hubby and son. My son is taking the class with me, so any heavy work that I can't handle he could take over :D Between my artistic eye and his sheer strength I'm seeing some great cement work going on over the summer. Would this help me when it comes to tiling the kitchen/bathroom floor? I feel so dumb asking questions here, but you're all such gentlemen... I know you will be 'kind' to me :).

I tend to be so long-winded, don't I?


Eli

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[flatfloor]

Entirely too much emphasis is being placed on a college degree. We need carpenters, electricians, plumbers, even tile guys. Besides those jobs can't be exported.

There is a crying need for auto technicians, salary range $60,000 to $100,000

[LadyGodiva]

Flatfloor, thank you for your response. I'm going to use any information I get here to support my feelings about trade school. I'm in a position to influence some of these kids who just don't know what they want... some would like to 'eventually' go to college, but at the moment they want something they could start earning money from.

I started the sewing classes actually after recommending that class to a young lady I used to tutor. She is now working for a local company and making more money than I do at tutoring. I honestly don't see anything wrong with learning a trade!

Hopefully, more people will give me some feedback. Thanks a bunch!

Eli

[Rock polisher]

I went through a 3 yr apprenticeship program in my early 20's along with working full time. I was one of those kids as well that would never have made it through college, couldnt sit still and didnt have the drive for school anymore. I love my job and make a very good living as far as Im concerned, I have friends with 4 yrs of college and Im making 20k more a year than they are and they hate their job. Nothing like learning hands on and its really the best way in the construction industry but a little theory and bookwork never hurt anyone.
Shame on his parents for pushing him, theres a lot to be said for being happy in what you do. To quote Judge Smails in Caddyshack, " The world needs ditch diggers too!"

[e3]

I agree with you. You can make a good living SETTING TILE!!
Maybe no one wants to answer this but what is a rough avg.hr. wage for a helper or setter, union or not??? $30 per hr.??

[Bri]

Depends where you are E3......if you're setting tile for a buck a foot?;)

[goneriding]

I agree with you LG! This is a discussion (sometimes heated) my husband and I have had a number of times - he is a professor and is disgusted that I would even consider anything but college a viable option for our kids. My daughter (age 13) asked me how you become a designer, and I included art school in my list of options - hoo boy, did I hear about that one!

I know a lot of high school grads (especially boys) who just won't succeed going straight to college. My brother was one of them, he got a certificate in electronics at a tech school and worked for several years, decided he wanted to go to college and graduated in math and computers with high honors. That would NEVER have happened without working for a few years and figuring out what he wanted.

I have a college degree and what do I like to do? Renovate houses, go figure. (and I love to lay tile best of all! ;) ) There are a lot of great opportunities in the trades that offer family wages, working outside of an office, and a lot of satisfaction in a job well done. When I meet a kid who doesn't know what to do after high school, I always give the building trades a plug.

[jjwq8]

I forget who made the original statement but my father often repeated it.

"Education is wasted on the young"

He should know. Oxford Don, who devoted his professional life to mentoring those with learning disabilities. What drove him crazy was that the children thus smitten were invariably more anxious to learn than those considered normal.

Fact of life. There are generals and there are cannon fodder.

The ethos to succeed is most laudable, but equally important is the ability to recognize those who will not.

Everyone rises to level of their own incompetence (politicians being the excption to this rule).

If all you can do is push a broom then so be it. The pyramids and other great works of our race that required teamwork were not accomplished by the theoreticians who designed them but by the tradesmen and common labourers who put in the effort and expertise to bring them to fruition.

Hell yes, we need trade schools and any professor who says otherwise is in the wrong line of business.

[goneriding]

[QUOTE]Hell yes, we need trade schools and any professor who says otherwise is in the wrong line of business.[QUOTE]

DH is not opposed to trade schools, just opposed to HIS child attending one... :rolleyes:

[madmax]

Originally posted by flatfloor
Entirely too much emphasis is being placed on a college degree. We need carpenters, electricians, plumbers, even tile guys. Besides those jobs can't be exported.

There is a crying need for auto technicians, salary range $60,000 to $100,000

No, but cheap labor can be imported.

[sdaniels7114]

Anyone from a Brain Surgeon to a Ditch Digger will benefit from a College education. College is more about teaching people how to think than it is about teaching people how to work. Roughly 1/2 of a four-year degree is devoted to general education anyway. The person in question has to decide if the benefit is worth the effort, but make no mistake about it. College benefits everyone who attends.

Most people get married and have a family a few years after they start working. What happens if this Carpenter gets sick of going home with sawdust in his hair right after his second kid is born? It's a lot harder to go back to school then. I think nearly everyone should be guided towards school. Besides, is there really a major difference between a Carpenter with 30 years of experience versus one with 26 years?

[John Bridge]

Steve, I almost agree with you, but not quite. ;)

There are people who cannot benefit from college. And I'm a guy who believes in a well-rounded liberal arts education -- I can't imagine not knowing anything about Shakespeare, Moliere, Dumas, Locke and the rest. :) There are people, howerver, who don't care to know about things. They are only interested in going about their business. I don't think we ought to mess with them. :D

[flatfloor]

Max, true but you can't get good cheap labor.

John you're absolutely right. Good example is my son, he got a GED, never actually finished formal H.S. couldn't stand school. The man will probably make about $100,000 this year with no formal computer schooling. Yes he did get certified by MS in a few areas but that's about it. He loves computers and just has an instinct for them.

We call him our idiot savant. :D

[Shaughnn]

Eli,
Tell those parents that come down on you about recommending "trade school" to their darlings about a man whom you know with a high school education who makes $70,000+ a year and works no overtime with weekends off and FULL benefits. Sure, my knees aren't anything too pretty to look at but every career has it's sour points. I like myself, I like my job, I like my standard of living and I owe it all to learning a valuable skill which too few are willing to make the effort to learn.
God bless the teachers!!!!
Shaughnn

[peterd]

John likes to call me "college boy." I have a masters in computer science and I do love my job. However, there are certain aspects of the job which make me wonder will I be able to do this job for the next 25 years.

Technology in my field is changing rapidly and I am finding it very hard to get my mind wrapped around some of the new stuff. The fact that my job can be taken and shipped to China, India or where ever is also very disconcerting. Studies are now showing that the number of students entering computer science / engineering programs is dropping. Who wants to kill them self in college (I believe three of the hardest majors in college are computer science/ engineering / nursing) just to have to compete with some one in a third world country whose cost of living is 1/10 of ours in the USA.

Believe you me, the 700 sq ft tile project + shower + tub surround is more than just a weekend project for me. I am interviewing the project to see if I might want to go back to trade school.

There is something about doing things with your hands that is very rewarding. Will see.

Besides I can always apprentice for John Bridge :D

Yes I can see it now, a new reality TV show called “The Apprentice” with John taking the role from Donald Trump.

-Peter

PS

I didn't go directly from high school to college. I made a stop at the local technical college. It gave me the chance to grow up a little bit and learn some of the thing I should have learned in high school. I was diganosed with ADHD when I was young so the extra attention with the smaller class sizes was great.

[jjwq8]

Never happen.

John ain't Bald :D