Community Chat

[LilacTree]

Mike Rowe was on New Day (CNN) this morning. He has written a new book entitled "Profoundly Disconnected," which I plan to read. He talked a little bit about his association with WalMart, but I tuned in too late to get most of that. He has received a lot of critcism for partnering with them, but seems to believe it's a good thing (I am not even sure what they are promoting).

What he did talk about made so much sense and is the subject matter of his new book. What he is essentially saying is that we make too much of a "college education" which, as is proven by my grandchildren, prepares you for none of the jobs that are available today. He says available jobs lie in the trades, and that vocational schools, where one learns to be a welder, a plumber, an electrician, etc., are where the jobs are. These jobs are plentiful and often go unfilled because of lack of skilled labor. He also said they frequently start at salaries in the $40-50,000 range, so they are not low paying jobs. He mentioned many examples, as he travels all over the country and visits these companies. He said it's starting to change, that we are beginning to realize there will always be a need for this kind of work, and that's where our focus should be after high school, not necessarily college which doesn't prepare young people for skilled labor. I did wonder how women would fit into that category but, while it was not discussed, I see no reason why young women could not also benefit from this type of education.

My mind was on my own granddaughter, who graduated with Marketing degree last year from St. Joseph's in Philly, and had to wind up taking a job as a computer entry operator in a company that pays little, has minimum benefits, no job security (she expects to be laid off in the next layoff cycle), and leads to nowhere. She is so depressed.

Rowe's book promotes the "trades" as the solution to our 21st century jobless issue. I think it will be an interesting read.

[pistolino]

Once I suggested to my nephew that he go into a trade like plumbing or electrical, anything like that. His father looked at me like I had 3 heads and stated he would be going to college and working doing something "on computers". I told him I hoped they would enjoy living in India or China, because that's where most of my field has gone.

I once knew a guy who was a tile setter. He was SO GOOD at intricate designs for bathrooms and pools he had a waiting list for jobs AND he was totally unreliable but people would put up with it because when he was done, his work was gorgeous. Very artistic. You can't farm that work out to another country.

[tansy]

The unions have a huge part in the good wages. My son's best friend is a well-paid electrician but has back troubles related to the job and work is scarce when construction work is slow.

[Topaz Gem]

I think Mike has a good point, but I never would have agreed with him several years ago. Now, with the job situation still in crisis, I think young people should be exploring the trades. You can make good money as a master electrician or plumber and good money at many of the other trades. It used to be the opposite, but now kids are saddled with debt after graduating and they can't find jobs.

[esmerelda]

Not everyone is "college material."

We will always (I hope) have lighting, heating, plumbing and refrigeration and need people to fix those things when they break. And mechanics for any number of things.

When's the last time you needed on of those people, and how much did it cost?

Trade schools enjoyed some popularity awhile back; but we've lapsed into the "college diploma" mindset again.

For some reason people think getting one's hands dirty is a bad thing.

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[LilacTree]

An old boyfriend of mine was a top notch, excellent painter. He never advertised, but had jobs piled up for months . . . people waited for him to be available, because he was that good. It was all word of mouth. Once he painted for someone, he had a customer for life.

I introduced him to the Managing Partner of the CPA firm I worked for, and who owned many business buildings in the area and homes down the shore. My boyfriend painted one of his facilities once, and that was it. He did all the painting for the MP for years. I wouldn't be surprised if he is still doing it because he was ten years younger than me and is probably still painting.

He made a lot of money, I never knew how much, but he never lacked for funds. He would buy a new car for cash.

[kdgn]

I have always felt that vocational ed should never have been dropped from the high schools. Not every student wants a college education, not every child is mentally equipped for college-they're a wizard with anything mechanical but don't have a focus for history, English, etc. Students who wish to further their education through college degrees should be encouraged, but so should those students who wish to study in vocational areas.

Plumbers, electricians, car mechanics-where would we be without them? In a world of hurt.

[just bee]

Something has gone terribly wrong with this country. Work is suddenly a different kind of four-letter word and you're stupid if that's what you do for a living.

Somehow the jobs that make the world go 'round are suddenly not glamorous and are inferior. I noticed this attitude from my teachers back in elementary school when they'd ask a student: "You don't want to grow up to be a garbage man, do you?"

In high school, they pushed college. When I graduated from a 5-year university program with a teaching credential I was mortified to discover that the starting salary in my old school district for a teacher was $14K a year. A guy I was dating at the time was 20 years old and had dropped out of college to become a tool and die maker. This was the 80s and he was making $25 an hour. I was working in retail because I couldn't find a teaching job.

A college degree isn't what it used to be. If everybody has one, what makes it special? Now that I have my RN I'm being pushed to get a BSN. My 5-year university degree cost less than the Associate's degree I earned last year. If I had started working straight out of high school in one of the start-up Silicon Valley companies instead of going off to college at 17, I believe I would have been better off.

[Lion]

I understand Mike Rowe's views on vocational/trade education but I think it's wrong to downplay college education.

I strongly believe everyone benefits from a well-rounded education. I think everyone should take college courses, not necessarily to earn a degree but to expand their intellectual horizons and make them more well-rounded people & citizens.

I've known many adults who have no need for or interest in a college degree, but they love learning and take college classes or university extension classes to keep learning, expanding their minds, and meeting new people with different views.

[LilacTree]

Civil service is another area lacking in enough qualified people. Policeman, firefighters, mail carriers, etc. They are tough and sometimes dangerous jobs, but I would think there is a need for them.

Thing is everyone wants to get into technology these days, and that's where the market is glutted and also sent overseas. It seems we have to move away from that.