Trade schools. Why are they looked down on?

The difference I’ve found between using my trade vs using my degree,

one stresses my brain more than the other. Neither are good for my body.

my trades have demanded longer hours and more time away from the home than my degree. I will give you that. Physically, I can’t go back to a blue collar job because time has taken its toll on me.

 

Dont get me wrong. Im not against going to college. My wife has her masters and I have a degree. Though I consider my schooling to be a hybrid between college and trade school. Unfortunaely with online school, they are really dumbing down my profession. The results of state licensing testing are showing this, but that's a topic for a different thread.

Like it's been said, each type of schooling has pros and cons. Regarding the cost of colleges, how much of that is from MAKING students take worthless classes, that otherwise wouldn't be able to be supported on their own? The idea of making students "more well rounded" by making them take these classes, is pure BS, IMO.

 

Wife and I both universities degrees.
My Daughter graduated High school this year; her conversation with her cousin 31 who was encouraging her to go to tech college; not university like he did.. he has 2 masters environmental engineering chemistry, he analyzes stuff see what’s in it. Conversation revolved around school debt and pay..
Him: Go to tech college!
Her: why?
Him $$$
Her I did that in high school went to same one you did took XYz Voc Tech. Start full time Monday $20+ hour..

him 9 years college 8 year’s experience managing lab 15% higher salary

 

Liberal arts and making you “more well rounded” isn’t just about wasting your time and money.

If that’s what people get from it, then it’s likely college was never for you.

some of my most eye opening classes to thinking outside the box were liberal arts classes and that it’s okay to be different in your thinking. How to apply trade skills differently to get better results with tweaks and adjustments.

And then you have to sit there and battle both the trades trained people “because that’s how we’ve always done it” and management who wants you “ on schedule and under budget”.

 

my oldest daughter is 29 and finishing her masters in education to get her state licensure for Special Education.

my youngest (23) looked at everyone in 2019 and said votech wasn’t even for her. She’s now certified to operate forklift and is working for Doosan making just as much as her sister as a licensed teacher.

I couldn’t be more proud of both of them for recognizing their potential and taking it and going for it.

 

There is always prejudice and judgements on both sides. In fact I have been working in a trade for most of my career (45 years) and only recently have had my job title changed from technician to engineer. Doesn't make a whole lot of difference though I still have to get the job done. My wife and I both have college degrees and my son is in a PhD program.

What I find most irritating is when one side thinks they don't need the other. The engineer designs the equipment and the tradesman installs it. Neither can entirely do what the other does so both are needed here. What is important is that we all respect those who do their part and not minimize their contribution. Anyone who is working an honest job for a living deserves respect.

A writer named Paul once said "If the whole body were an eye, how would it hear?" We all have a part to play.

 

Much better put than how I said it.

 

In far too many schools "more well rounded" actually means brainwashed for many kids.
A couple years back I worked with a very sharp kid that went to a liberal arts college, just because it was the closest school that gave him a baseball scholarship, he said many of the teachers hated him because he didn't just sit there and soak up their every word...would argue his point, if he disagreed...he said only one teacher halfway respected him after they had it out behind closed doors one day...he said he landed a couple good points that had the prof stumbling over her words. The rest basically wrote him off since he didn't always make it easy for them to spout their BS (his words)

 

Started freshman year of HS in 1968. Shop classes were mandatory for freshmen. Had small engine, electrical and wood shop. Fixed our family lawn mower buy replacing a couple parts in the engine. Totally amazed my dad when it fired right up. But as my mom was insistent that I was to take a college prep curriculum I couldn't take shop classes after that. Totally soured me on HS. Dropped out senior year.

Worked various jobs over the next 6-7 years. Got married, had 2 kids when in 1980 got laid off from my job at an industrial supply store. There was a little recession going on. Read an article about a govt retraining program starting up, CETA. Got into the digital electronics program and for the next 40 years was employed in a number of jobs as a field service tech - vending/amusement, business machines (copiers, printers, office networking), payphones. Did take a 8 year break in 2006-2014. Got burnt out, got my CDL-B, drove a truck for those years. Retired in 2020.

I have always been good with figuring out how things work even as a kid. My friends and I worked on all our cars as teenagers. Had one job right out of HS doing framing and rough electrical for a modular home company. Taught myself carpentry, computers, car repair,electrical, plumbing. I have saved my family tens of thousands of $$ over my life being able to fix things myself. Have helped extended family and friends as well. Big part of the reason we got a pellet stove in 2013 was I knew I could maintain and repair it myself.

Long way of getting to my point here- if one has the ability or can learn, being able to troubleshoot and fix things is a skill that will always be in demand. Even if one doesn't make a career out of it, being able to fix things yourself is a valuable tool in life.

sam

 

Spam that came across my FB…


I enjoy reading a lot of these.

 

Cosmetology

 

X2. I went to North GA Technical College, got a electrician degree. Worked in that field for several years.

 

I spent my time at an automotive trade school. Why ; not sure other than a technicality. Dad thought it would be good for me. Hmmmm driving half hour each way daily with three buddies from town in our souped up cars , well that isn't a good start. Went to school and from there to work everyday in a local garage , I started in this garage at age 14 so had been working on cars long before the tech school was even a thought.

I will say it was some good times , somehow the ride to and from school did dramatically increase rear tire wear.

 

Hmmmmmm sounds quite typical.

 

Yeah .......... always remember that old joke about all of the body parts arguing who is the most important

 

Makes me deeply wish I had a PHD in Philosophy or a Masters in Political Science

 

X2

 

I went to trade school. I can remember a good friend of my brothers at the time was a substitute teacher and recommended it.

I think a lot of society looks down upon anyone getting their hands dirty at their job.

I had one well to do woman kind of patronize me ""oh you poor thing" as i climbed up and down the ladder working on her chimney. I replied "dont feel bad for me, im just doing my job."

I wouldnt have it any other way and looking back have no regrets.

 

My parents didn't go to college. Dad was a farmer and my mom was a bank teller. She went back to school nights when I was in junior high. I took a class with her. All of them where at a community college 35 minutes away. I worked with my dad and grandpa on the farm so I'm sure mom liked having some time just with me and I'm sure talking after class helped her stay awake on the drive home after working all day and doing evening classes. I'd kinda forget about this.

All the trades classes in highschools around here have the classes tied up with FFA. It's nice but it really keeps kids separate in education, farm kids and college kids. Ive talked to lots of kids that want to take welding or ag maintenance but they don't have the prereq of animal husbandry or plant science. Total BS and keeps some kids from trying.

Back in highschool I was told I couldn't take votech classes because I was going to college and going to become something. Guidance counselor really had us separated into two classes of people. Welding and maintenance would have helped me a lot in my career.

I went to college and got a BS in Mechanical engineering and a MS in Manufacturing engineering. Got a good job that then helped pay for 2 more engineering masters and a PhD. I worked through college in different machine shops learning to machine and processing the old fashioned way. I know for certain the machine shop experience is what got me my first job for 18 years. That's what made me standout from all the other kids with just a degree.

I've told my 3 kids to look at votech classes. At a minimum it's employment while you work on a higher degree or if the economy tanks. There is just too many guys retiring, I think skilled labor will be in demand no matter what.

Missouri has a program called A+ and if highschool seniors meet the requirements they get 2 years of CC or votech courses paid for. Then MO has a program that insures courses transfer to 4 year colleges as equivalent courses,not just hours. My oldest is joining the Army National Guard to get training and educational costs covered. My middle is looking at doing 2year votech related to civil engineering/building trades and then transfer to a civil or architectural program. My youngest hasnt figured out what he wants to do yet, but does have his whole 4 years of highschool planned out including dual enrollment classes.

My kids see me do automotive repair on our cars and farm equipment. They help cut, skid, haul, split and stack firewood. We've done small building construction, wiring, plumbing... in the house and out buildings. I have not tried to downgrade or belittle any trades.

Our neighbors across the road does building trades votech work and his house is probably 10 times as big and expensive as ours.