Greetings, fellow tradesfolk! Today, I delve into the ever-evolving landscape of technical education, where the scent of sawdust, diesel exhaust, and the hum of tools fill the air. So, grab your favorite tool belt—school is in session!
In the days of old, vocational schools stood tall, brick and mortar buildings filled with trade students, graduates were ready to fill job openings. but since the 1990s, these programs faded faster than a poorly stained fence. The trades were once crowded, but now demand for skilled bluecollar youth is high as pine, with employers eager to snag youths as apprentices.
Students as young as 15 are going to working vocational programs, instead of classrooms.
Reviving brick and mortar trade schools isn’t easy or cheap, but communities embracing this shift to send eager youths into a working, hands on experience with a employer rather than a teacher lifts the tax burden and fosters economic freedom. Employers benefit from fresh-faced apprentices taking in low level tasks, while youths learn in real-world environments. This also frees up skilled older hands to focus on complex jobs.
A middle school kid can change oil and replace headlights, wash inventory or sweep the shop freeing up sop time for veterans, allowing them to diagnose a clunky transmission.
When demand shifts, this system adapts. If demand falls, training programs reduce. In brick and mortar programs, students are often trained regardless of demand. Intensive hands on vocational programs are popping up, filling labor market gaps swiftly.
Technical colleges offer a deeper dive for those hungry for more than basics, often with scholarships for students willing to prove themselves. Two years as a part time line tech may inspire a major manufacturer to sponsor a student, providing a full scholarship in his or her trade.
Employers love this because they get a capable young person, trained and ready long before the youth graduates from the system.
Just as remote learning has changed the public school system, so job placement has changed the vocational education system.
In conclusion, embracing the evolution of technical education is vital. So, sharpen your mechanical pencil, tighten your apron strings, and let’s build a legacy that withstands the test of time, like a well-crafted home, passed down through generations.
Howdy! Grab your favorite coffee and join me as we journey through the Marcellus shale. I’m your guru’ for all things oil and gas. Expect some hearty chuckles as we wonder the ins and outs of the Appalachian Basin, because let’s face it, the new energy revolution is – full of surprises.
James A. Asbury