Emphasis on College vs. Trade/Technical Schools

Having a College education is a worthy goal in life. But what do we do with so many college grads looking for high payed, high standards jobs that are almost nowhere to find, while technical schools are spending millions in trying to bring in new students? You can go anywhere in the country and find more and more uneducated, mostly immigrants doing technical work that they are not qualified to do, because college grads don't want to dirty their hands? No wonder so many corporations move their manufacturing facilities overseas, where they find people eager to learn trades, rather than aiming to college education they cannot afford. Have you ever seen a doctor or an engineer making a living as taxi drivers? I have.

MY SKOOL WAS AND ALWAYS WILL B A PIECE OF SHIT. WE HAD METAL TECH AND CONSTRUCTION, YEA WELL WHEN QWE GOT A BITCH PRINCIPAL IN SHE GOT RID OF THEM. SHE SAID '' WE NEED TO FOCOUS MORE ON MATH AND SCIENCE'' YEA WELL HATE 2 RAIN ON UR PARADE BUT I LEARNED/USED MORE MATH THAN WAT I WAS GETTIN TAUGHT IN REGULAR MATH CLASS. IT'S BULL SHIT AND DAT'S Y I'M THERE FOR 1/2 A DAY AND DA OTHER 1/2 IN AT A VOTECH SKOOL

As a public school employee who works in special education, I feel that this is an issue that public schools are failing to address. Current policies focus on instructing all children in the core subjects because of test scores. However, some children are not capable of scoring on grade level, yet can be productive members of society if they were given a trade. I work with many students whose IQs are borderline, but not low enough to qualify for a mentally retarded program. If their IQs were in an MR range, than expectations for them would be different. As it is now they are compared to student with unlimited academic ability. These kids are hard workers who want to please their teachers, but just don't have the ability to learn as well as others. If they could be taught a trade that they could perfect, they could leave school at age 18 and be on the path to success. As the system works now they will likely lose interest in school because they are self conscious about their academic sh... Read more

Very important issue. I don't believe in complete separate tracking. I think those not college bound should still get something of a liberal education, and I think the college bound should learn something about using their hands.

Being able to turn a wrench figures into a lot of careers. If a student shows aptitude, why not encourage that, instead of blindly stearing them towards acadamia. Same thing for the other side. We need all types of workers to make the US economy work right. School should be about helping people get better at what they are good at, and helping them understand the other side of the coin, too. A well-rounded education leads to a well-rounded graduate, and onward to a well-rounded worker in the field they choose to pursue. :)

Zionessesq provides some excellent comments here. I think that Vocational/trade schools should be destigmatized.College isn't for everyone-and not necessarily because they don't have the brains for it.(I know some highly intelligent hairdressers and auto mechanics)Besides,if someone likes to work with their hands and is good at it-they can have a good job straight out of high-school,and will be able to afford to go to college later in life when they are more mature and have a clear view of what new career they'd like to persue.In fact,many of the best college students are the older people who have already been in the work force for some time. Often,(not always) kids straight out of High School waste a lot of time (and money) goofing off at college due to immaturity.

students don't all belong in college. In our school district they've cut way back on classes that aren't for college bound students. They've almost illiminated all the shop classes and secretarial type classes. They've pretty much told the students that if you're not going to college you may as well get out. In the past 4 years our drop out rate has nearly doubled. It's a shame. No wonder Indiana always rates so low in Education.

Students today are now more aware of their post-highschool options but I myself would never had chosen something other than college. But I think it's great that kids today get to have the chance to go after what they really want to do. That, of course, is in stark contrast to the either go to college or flip burgers at McDonalds for the rest of your life thinking that affected earlier generations.

I totally agree with Zioness Esq. It is so true. Nowa days students don't have a clue as to where they can go. What career to go to that will foster their God-given talents. Great observation here. g

This issue is much larger than the options in the question. Other countries test for talent early on in a child's life and advise the parents & discuss with the students. Practical advice career (money paid for, time to prepare for, etc. infomation) should be intoduced to the students. They can then groom talents as early as they like. I would like to see career counseling in the schools. There are many other choices folks. Apprenticships are so valuable - shd be part of the school progams as well. Let young folks work in the area they like. Those going before them have much to teach. We have much to learn. No one is steepping up to this issue. Few kids have a good (unbiased) view of their skills as realted to careers. We badly need to connect the dots here!!

I wholeheartedly agree 100000000% with what kamylienne said.

(4=important issue) In high school, I remember their extreme emphasis on college, but rarely if ever did they mention other post-high school options other than that. Trade schools and Technical schools should also be offered as alternatives to college for those who don't want to go to college. Some people who wouldn't like the college experience would be much happier in a trade school setting, and be extremely successful.

at the very least, students should get a basic education that will enable them to succeed in the work force. once they have achieved this basic education, the cirriculum should be tailored to help them meet their goals.