Last night was middle school orientation for our dd. It was nice to see the school and her classrooms.
But dh and I had a big problem with the presentations. They really focused on pushing trades instead of college.
They had a 10 minute video on how great trades are, how much money you can make, and that college is over rated. So why not just forget about college and do a trade?
I leaned over to dh and asked, “Are you biting your tongue, too?” He nodded.
Before I get my head bitten off, no, there’s nothing wrong with learning a time-honored trade. Without it, there’d be much less plumbing, electric, etc. I respect people who can come into my house and fix something I can’t.
The problem I had is that there’s more to college than a degree and money. There’s a certain amount of respect that comes with a degree. People fight for and dream of college. I did. I put myself through 2 years while holding a job and being a single mom when my dd was a toddler. I could go on with why a degree is important to me, but I won’t bore you.
I think if one of my boys tried to go to college and hated it and wanted to be a welder or an electrician, I’d be fine with that. Or if he tried out a trade school through high school before college. But to exclude college (as the presentation was doing) is doing the kids a disservice.
I agree that college should be stressed as well. Some of the kids will go into trades and some will go to college, they should present for all the kids, not just the ones who will go into trades.
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To me college is definitely not all about money or even status. It is about getting an education. I learned SO MUCH in college. Things that I never would have learned otherwise.
I would have been very irritated as well with that presentation.
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Well down here, trades are being taught in the colleges. Want a degree in construction management………….go to college. What to be an electrician……..go to college, want to be an ultrasound tech go to college. Down here they go hand in hand. The difference is, it only takes two years to get most degrees for a trade rathern than four years.
There are merrits for both …………. degrees for trades don’t rack up expenses or cost as much to receive and the receipient of said degrees goes into the workforce making really good money right after graduation.
The other degrees take longer, cost more, and you may or may not be hired right out of college making decent money. However, eventually you will earn more than someone who didn’t further their education after high school at all.
Bottom line at the 6th grade level these issues should only be mentioned in passing.
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i agree. they should definetely give you all the options and let you make your mind up for yourself
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