The liberal arts

[fhdz]

Since apprenticeships in the trades have considerably dried up, seeing as many corporations find themselves unwilling to train, employers are beginning to demand vocational education requirements instead. This, in my opinion, makes some of those degrees artifically more valuable than they actually are. Learning about electricity is good, right, and proper. Learning about it on the job is what makes you a good electrician.

This is one of the election issues in our province - how to reinvigorate trades training in the workforce.  Everyone agrees it needs to be done.  I am not clear on the details of how anyone will actually do it though.

It seems to me that a time of massive unemployment would be a really good time to introduce some sort of apprenticeship credit program to employers...there are lots of people looking to make a change right now, and lots of people fed up with desk job life.

Wouldn't it make more sense to go the other way and charge large tax penalties to employers who hire people with college degrees?

No, not in the sense of actually investing in the improvement of trades. Remember - a lot of those people who want jobs in the trades these days are fed up because their degrees aren't buying them what they thought they'd buy them.

And perhaps those folks with "useless" humanities degrees might have the critical thinking skills to enable them to be great tradesmen as opposed to good tradesmen.

[The Larch]

I shudder to think how living in a world full of engineers might be.

[fhdz]

I shudder to think how living in a world full of engineers might be.

Everything nonliving functions properly and no one can look anyone else in the eye.

[The Larch]

I shudder to think how living in a world full of engineers might be.

Everything nonliving functions properly and no one can look anyone else in the eye.

Or make small talk with strangers. 

[fhdz]

FWIW, I can't begin to describe how happy I am that I attended a school system that trained me in Shakespeare, western history, Plato and critical thinking, rather than a system that molded me into an IT office worker or a sheet metal cutter.   

Right. Eventually sheet metal is replaced by flubber and you have to start over. If you've been a sheet metal cutter who has a rounded education starting over *should* be a whole lot easier.

[Phillip V]

Since apprenticeships in the trades have considerably dried up, seeing as many corporations find themselves unwilling to train, employers are beginning to demand vocational education requirements instead. This, in my opinion, makes some of those degrees artifically more valuable than they actually are. Learning about electricity is good, right, and proper. Learning about it on the job is what makes you a good electrician.

This is one of the election issues in our province - how to reinvigorate trades training in the workforce.  Everyone agrees it needs to be done.  I am not clear on the details of how anyone will actually do it though.

Most parents and students surveyed think all that is important. But when asked if they want to do it or want their children to do it (blue collar work), most then say "hell no!"

[MadImmortalMan]

I don't think any of us should be allowed to decide what kids should and shouldn't study.

[merithyn]

Most parents and students surveyed think all that is important. But when asked if they want to do it or want their children to do it (blue collar work), most then say "hell no!"

I'm encouraging Jak to look for work as a farm hand right now. He eventually wants to go into Agricultural Engineering, so I told him to spend some time actually working with the tools of the trade before he bothers going to school to try to make them.

He may decide that he likes the farm work more, and I'd be okay with that, too. Ultimately, all that matters to most parents is that our kids are happy with what they do, and that what they do will pay the bills with a little extra.

[crazy canuck]

Since apprenticeships in the trades have considerably dried up, seeing as many corporations find themselves unwilling to train, employers are beginning to demand vocational education requirements instead. This, in my opinion, makes some of those degrees artifically more valuable than they actually are. Learning about electricity is good, right, and proper. Learning about it on the job is what makes you a good electrician.

This is one of the election issues in our province - how to reinvigorate trades training in the workforce.  Everyone agrees it needs to be done.  I am not clear on the details of how anyone will actually do it though.

Most parents and students surveyed think all that is important. But when asked if they want to do it or want their children to do it (blue collar work), most then say "hell no!"

That is one of the reasons it is important to have those sorts of training programs within the workplace.  Once people get past high school and understand everyone cant be a /fill in the blank/ they can turn their minds to what makes more sense in terms of long term jobs that pay well.  The trades then become an obvious choice.  But if trades training is only offered through vocational institutions then they have a less value.  Partly because of the point you raise.

[MadImmortalMan]

I could hook Jak up if he wants to move to Ohio.

Does he like pigs? 

[fhdz]

Since apprenticeships in the trades have considerably dried up, seeing as many corporations find themselves unwilling to train, employers are beginning to demand vocational education requirements instead. This, in my opinion, makes some of those degrees artifically more valuable than they actually are. Learning about electricity is good, right, and proper. Learning about it on the job is what makes you a good electrician.

This is one of the election issues in our province - how to reinvigorate trades training in the workforce.  Everyone agrees it needs to be done.  I am not clear on the details of how anyone will actually do it though.

Most parents and students surveyed think all that is important. But when asked if they want to do it or want their children to do it (blue collar work), most then say "hell no!"

That is one of the reasons it is important to have those sorts of training programs within the workplace.  Once people get past high school and understand everyone cant be a /fill in the blank/ they can turn their minds to what makes more sense in terms of long term jobs that pay well.  The trades then become an obvious choice.  But if trades training is only offered through vocational institutions then they have a less value.  Partly because of the point you raise.

[Razgovory]

I don't think any of us should be allowed to decide what kids should and shouldn't study.

Well typically such sweeping and revolutionary sociological changes are decided upon by lunatics, so if anyone should decide it's me.                         

[MadImmortalMan]

I don't think any of us should be allowed to decide what kids should and shouldn't study.

Well typically such sweeping and revolutionary sociological changes are decided upon by lunatics, so if anyone should decide it's me.                       

I'm cool with that.

[Jacob]

Ide is just afraid of snakes: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq-the-snake-fight-portion-of-your-thesis-defense

[merithyn]

I could hook Jak up if he wants to move to Ohio.

Does he like pigs? 

He likes bacon; does that count?

Doubt he's going to want to move to Ohio, though. I mean, seriously.. who does?