(Photo: Wiltshire Times) Within the last few years, there has been a kickback against the “go to college, get that degree, make that money” line of thinking that has persisted for decades. A resistance to taking on a mountain of student loan debt, overfilled job market quotas in certain ranges with other ranges threatened to become empty in due time, and a throwback to actually working with your hands has seen a shift of thinking. People like Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” fame have put their backing into it, too…not everyone is going to be a tech engineer, or run a business, or make any kind of money with a humanities degree. Some people need to roll up their sleeves and get down to business, and some people will enjoy it.
Here’s the thinking behind today’s Question of the Day: A lot of high school programs that many of you remember fondly, like woodshop, metalshop, and auto shop classes, were phased out in the 1990s and 2000s to make way for other programs or to free up budgets for the basics. But what about trade schools, who can run in-house programs and link up shops with apprentices who have proven themselves worthy of being entrusted as a trial-fit employee? This actually happens over in the United Kingdom…certain schools, such as Wiltshire College, develop working relationships with shops and have farmed out individual students who have proven their mettle. Student completes apprenticeship, and shop now has an individual who…
(A) wanted to be there, and
(B) is a known individual that the shop can now option to hire with limited risk.
Working at a shop as an apprentice is the final step, but tell me that a classroom full of eager students who signed up and paid for the course wouldn’t bust their ass at a shot. Let them restore whatever Craigslist refugee they drag in for practice on in the course, and see where each person goes. Could it work? Yes. Could it possibly stir up some interest that isn’t already out there? Yes, if there are success stories that can be shared from the first couple of students that find employment after the course.
What do you think?
Not all people are “book smart”. Some do great in class, then get so nervous they tank at tests. I served two apprenticeships. Both were something I wanted to do. Companies granting an apprentice a shot gets someone wanting to be there, not just someone needing a paycheck. And from also being in management, there is a difference.
Oh, two apprenticeships? Long story.
I wish they had an automotive apprenticeships back in my youth. I ended being a machinist now for over 35 yrs.
Great idea and long overdue. What’s a degree in Bachelor of Bu!!$h1t (name the title) good for. This way they can get something useful and maybe just become self supportive
Hmmm… maybe I can start an apprenticeship where students pay me to restore my cars (and try to cough up a lung every third day).
I think people are confusing work with hobby. Who hires these ‘graduates’ when they’re done? it’s tough enough getting a real job after college (because no real world experience) but now the student is further behind the 8 ball because he or she went to a no-name shop and worked for worse-then-free for 2 years…. and if you don’t think you can go into debt – WyoTech is something like 16,000 a year plus living expenses.
Worked for me way back. Was an apprentice in my state arranged through my trade school. Started working after school and holidays. The dealership got a cheap employee and even got money kicked back from the state to assist in paying my salary good deal for them. Continued and became a full time employee.