I graduated NCOC in the automotive technology course ( No autobody available ) in 2007.. it was worth it.. last year the school came very close to being shut down.

 

Hey Mr. Gold

Hey Bud, I think more high schools should offer technical training because it's becoming a lost art in the United States. People who enjoy what they do and make a living of it, is one of the things that founded our country. I will never forget the lessons that I have learned from both teachers in high school tech classes, vo-tech classes and also the guys that took my dumb *** under their wings and taught me from a practical stand point how to get the job done. If your school is not doing enough for you, please ask your parents to put you into something that is more. A good mind is not something you want to waste, we need more guys like you to keep our country what it is and what it was. I respect you Man. :thumbup: olnolan

 

High schools seem more interested in turning out drones who can score high on tests than people who can actually work.

 

I am for it. I believe teaching tech in high school such as mechanics auto body carpentry and so on would help kids stay in school and try. I went to a college prep high school and done enough to get a b or c. I really cared less and barely tried. I am in tech school for diesel mechanics and am trying my best and actually studying. I believe tech school in high school would be great so when they graduate they could get a good job instead of a job at mcdonalds

 

Autobody was long gone by the time I got to the votec,It was kind of a joke all in all,alot of what we learned in many of the classes was self taught.
Shane

 

High schools seem more interested in turning out drones who can score high on tests than people who can actually work.

Seems the only goal is to teach the kids how to pass the SAT tests.
Does not matter in the least that they cannot add/subtract/multiply or speak english at even a 3rd grade level.

Just pass the state tests so the schools can get more money

 

we are gona need someone to fix our cars as long as we have em. i also agree that the schools are all goin for sat scores.alot of students are gettin bored and drop out because they find nothin at school to draw their intrest.they cant all be pencil pushers. someone is still gona have to work for a living.im not knockin education at all.but we need the tec classes so our kidos can learn a craft that they are happy with.as long as there is students who want the auto repair classes,we should have em for them.

 

"knowledge is all good, whether you use it or not" :thumbup:

 

School, any school, is what you make it. Those teachers that got your attention, that made something stick, should be higher paid than most CEO's, it's a gift, they passed a little part of themselves over to you. Reminds me of Saving Private Ryan, at the end of the movie on the bridge, Tom Hanks is dieing and tells Ryan to "Earn It". The fact that you as a young adult are interested in actual learning, rather than skating or being handed everything for free is what life's about, learning is fun, that's what's going to set you apart from the herd. Good Luck!

 

tech school.

Most school board members look down on the trades. I've taught a few tech courses over the years. Look at the numbers, post high school students in tech programs have the highest completion rates in the local community colleges. I've taught apprentice classes . Look at the money earned vs the cost of schooling. High cost student loans Etc It takes about 20 years for the average college grad to catch up financially with someone that completes a tech -apprenticeship program.

 

I loved all shop classes in high school I took all of them,Metal ,wood electricity,printshop,I learned a lot and enjoyed every one.After that I took two years of electronics (half a day)at a program called B.O.C.E.S....through the high school.I quit school before I graduated and two years ago I got my GED at 46yrs old and took welding and pipefitting.This year I plan on taking physics and computor graphics.I been in the body and paint biz all my life and might even start instructing an autobody class they are planning to start up for the same tech school...All I can say is GO FOR IT !!! You cant lose,knowlage is power. :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

I agree with.

No matter,stay in school,Try and get a job sweeping at a body shop,You'd be surprised how much you learn sweepin a floor.If you watch,and ask at breaks you might find a dude who does it on the side.We called that moonlighting.To some of us the need to learn outweighed the need to be a Geek.Seems they are everywhere.But ask one about fixing his car and watch his face.Learn all you can and read all you can cause nobody can take away what you learn.You may not have to be a metal man but most people that think Barris was one never knew about his brother.One thing we do have in America is schools and I stay in one and always will.

 

It takes about 20 years for the average college grad to catch up financially with someone that completes a tech -apprenticeship program.

I haven't researched this, but it's obviously True! My uncle works as a very successful architect for a well-known firm. He didn't pay off his student loans until he was 50!

Kids get hammered with the idea that going to college=better pay always! That isn't true though! I won't deny that having a College Degree is good. Most people that don't see the need for Tech schools... probably don't realize most of the kids in those programs will earn more than them!

 

I'd like to make two points ...First of all ,just do what you love doing ...getting paid is just a bonus....second... We are the one's who build the world ,everybody else just profits from us...If all your doing something for is money you'll never be a master of anything except greed....The money will come naturaly,

 

I'd like to make two points ...First of all ,just do what you love doing ...getting paid is just a bonus....second...

I agree! However, the reason most school administrators are cutting these Tech Programs is because they don't think the people in them will end up making a lot of money. They think that if all these kids are in more academic programs they will end up going to college and getting a better paying job. Then if that person stays in the state they'll end up bringing in more Tax revenue.

Of course how many people with 4-year degrees are out of work now? Are they even earning a lot of money? How many of those people don't even like what they are doing? I'm not saying that money is the most important thing, but it's really what these administrators think about. I don't think they should be cutting Art or Music programs either, but what are you going to do?

 

What the administraters should be cutting is ......their salaries ....and their staff and do more of their own work ....it's the teachers that are important...and should be in charge of education...It always amazes me how self-important administrators think they are and have made themselves... Top heavy management of large companies and politicians all follow the same path...they're always crying, "We need more money,we need more money" instead of we need to do more work so we can get more money...maybe we're the ones (the working people)that are thinking wrong??? but doing less work and getting more money does sound appealing.

 

Right now I don't know if you could blame the head honchos entirely. (Of course they probably are paid too much!) I think lots of schools are cutting budgets to the bone.

Of course they will tell you "We teach your kids to think creatively in school!" Well how do you do that by cutting Tech, Music, and Art?

 

Kids who go to Tech school get it. They know that what they are learning will fill a need. We still need Plumbers, Carpenters, Heating & Cooling Repair people, Automotive Technicians, Electricians etc. Specialists in every area will be needed to install, improve and repair all types of equipment. Fewer kids are going into these areas around the country because of parents and school counselors pushing kids into what they think are better paying jobs. It is working out great for companies like Walmart. A huge supply of young well educated people that need a job.

 

The administrators need to be fighters representing the schools ,fighting for every dollar Just like our congressmen are suppose to be doing ...Its for the kids not personal gain....My uncle was in administrator for the school system you wouldnt believe the stories he tells ....he had to fight the whole town a couple times...because they were sending the busses to the catholic schools on the publics dime every dog gone catholic in town wanted him fired till the rest of the town caught on due to him going public....thats just one example of what a good administrator or politician should be... Were very proud to be related to someone of his charactor..If more were like that we wouldnt be in the trouble were in as a nation ...I'm not saying all politicians or all administrators are self serving ,just the majority of them and they tie the hands of anyone that cares about anything besides themselves.Why is it that all the people of good charactor have jobs like ours?

 

Kids who go to Tech school get it. They know that what they are learning will fill a need.

I'm not sure if that's always true. My teacher seems to have trouble with many of the kids in his High School classes. He said "A lot of them don't really appreciate the skills they are getting!"

I would have appreciated going to a tech high school!

 

Here are some thoughts from an old guy.

When I was in High School (I graduated in 1959), I had a choice of college prep, business or general education. The general education course also had various 'shop' classes. Carpentry (home building), electrical (home wiring), metal (sheet metal and machining) and automotive mechanics. Unless a student chose the general ed course they could NOT take any shop course even as an elective. In my opinion this was and still is a major fault of the educational system. One big plus at that time at my high school was for the students that took a 'shop' class; the senior year was actually 'on the job' training with pay. When they completed and graduated they were granted Journeyman papers in the respective trade. For girls(primarily) the school offered Cosmetology classes that also enabled those who completed full time employment upon graduation. The down side at that time was that most of the students that took the 'shop' courses dropped out of school once they got to the on the job training part. Money was the lure to not complete school.

Most communities have Junior (Community) Colleges that offer tech training. Some offer excellent courses of study. They are usually more realistically priced.

There are also schools like Wyo Tech. Unfortunately those are VERY overpriced and do not seem to offer any more job opportunities than the local community colleges.

The Federal Government still offers apprenticeships in many trades. They pay well and have very good benefits. Those apprenticeships include the education at the same time as you are employed. You do not have to get the education before applying for the apprenticeship.

Education is not just about attending a school. It is an ongoing lifelong experience.

 

I agree! However, the reason most school administrators are cutting these Tech Programs is because they don't think the people in them will end up making a lot of money. They think that if all these kids are in more academic programs they will end up going to college and getting a better paying job. Then if that person stays in the state they'll end up bringing in more Tax revenue.

Of course how many people with 4-year degrees are out of work now? Are they even earning a lot of money? How many of those people don't even like what they are doing? I'm not saying that money is the most important thing, but it's really what these administrators think about. I don't think they should be cutting Art or Music programs either, but what are you going to do?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

You got it pretty right:

For over the last 20 years I have supported the tech schools offering body shop courses, taught classes for them on many subjects, donated money, donated excess material such as cans not filled right or labels upside down and I have sat on many advisory boards.

Here is the problem and there are no exceptions, the head of the college wants these programs gone, anytime you work with your hands you are a stupid lowlife and just not in the same league as they are because they are so smart and dress so nice. I have never meant one that after being nice to him, I didn't want to take out back and just beat him into tomorrow.

Now about the unemployment statement, the hardest hit has been the college educated middle and upper management, women and the trades people have fared a little better.

What I find funny is now that Obama (puke) has stated that we need more trade programs, I do agree with him on this item only, how are these heads of the colleges going to eat crow and comply?

Sorry, I have been to involved in these programs not to have a bad attitude about the administrators.

 

Once again I find myself in agreement with you Barry,I believe weve talked about the offer I got from Augusta tech...I dont know if I'd fair so well restraining myself as you did,that could be a slight problem.

 

I'm not sure if that's always true. My teacher seems to have trouble with many of the kids in his High School classes. He said "A lot of them don't really appreciate the skills they are getting!"

I would have appreciated going to a tech high school!

It is true and also unfortunate that some kids do not appreciate the opportunity that is available. Others may want it but lack the natural ability. Fortunately for most they will mature and appreciate it later in life. As Barry K said High School prepares students and teaches them how to learn. In the end it is still up to the student to apply themselves throughout life and continue to grow and learn. Hopefully in a career they have some passion for.

 

Hmm, I have many views on this. First off I`ll say there are too many things completely backwards. When I was in tech college, they didn`t care about my experience, they cared about my education. When I took the exam they put me on the beginner level and the beginners were looked at as morons. A friend of mine, who breaks more stuff that he can fix took the same exam, did well on it and got placed in advanced automotive. So here he is, don`t know nothing but is taking advanced automotive because he scored well. Paper ain`t doing, hands on is what counts. So now, you have all these companies that push you must have a high school deploma to get hired. Yet the man with experience won`t be hired because he don`t have a high school deploma, that`s discrimination. That`s catagorizing those that didn`t finish high school as stupid. Just as my view on paper ASE tests, that`s a joke. Anyone can study the book and pass it on paper, now, go out there to the shop and let me see you do it hands on. ASE tests should be done hands on by the student while the instructor watches then graded by the instructor to see how well the student did the job and rather or not he passed. That`s what ASE should be. They don`t teach common sense in college, and many managers and I can`t see eye to eye because I don`t believe college BS books, I believe in common sense. But since common sense is becoming a rarity in today`s day and age it makes it that much harder for those of us that don`t have a high school deploma to find work. A book didn`t teach me mechanics, it didn`t teach me how to build computers, it didn`t teach me how to install car audio systems, it didn`t teach me how to read hertz. It didn`t teach me how to tune subwoofer boxes to the correct range. Most of my abilities and those are just a couple I am self taught at. So I`ll die preaching what I`ve always preached. Don`t judge a man for a job by his education, judge him by his experience.
There is no substitute for experience.