4 ms·

Something to consider is that many European countries aggressively track students in conjunction with that free/cheap college. As a consequence, failing during

Something to consider is that many European countries aggressively track students in conjunction with that free/cheap college. As a consequence, failing during early education can put them onto the vocational track much earlier than you’d see for a U.S. student.

strangattractor 4y ago
We need to stop knocking vocational programs in the US IMO. College has a learning modality that is not well suited for everyone. I wish I could find the Youtube video but there is a German Manufacturer of CNC machines in the US. Their apprentice program looked excellent/fun. The students were building electric bikes and motors - learning undergraduate level electronics in a hands one fashion - using CAD - then milling the parts out on a multimillion dollar machines. Mostly learning by doing. Getting paid to do so and would likely have a job when finished. In the US there is a perception that the vocational or trades route mean failure. We tend to think of trades as an expense, dangerous or someone that works on an assembly line. Some people just get bored sitting in a classroom.
- brewtide 4y ago
  100%. Stuff that needs done, will still need done and a lot of it is going to be difficult to robot away. The trades have never been busier, and all the different trades I see at different job sites have the 30 whatever being the young person. Not only are they in demand, but can pay pretty decently as well, plus have directly applicable individual life uses, causing most of us tradesmen to spend very little $ maintaining our own things (cars, houses, etc). Go to college, awesome. Or learn to use your hands and do something well, awesome. The stuck in retail / service middle ground seems to be the hardest path in life, and obviously so very subjective, but I'd find that long term path not very internally rewarding, either.
itronitron 4y ago
Yeah, probably the main reason that US high schools seem to perform worse than other countries is that the US doesn't kick students out in middle school.

strangattractor 4y ago

We need to stop knocking vocational programs in the US IMO. College has a learning modality that is not well suited for everyone. I wish I could find the Youtube video but there is a German Manufacturer of CNC machines in the US. Their apprentice program looked excellent/fun. The students were building electric bikes and motors - learning undergraduate level electronics in a hands one fashion - using CAD - then milling the parts out on a multimillion dollar machines. Mostly learning by doing. Getting paid to do so and would likely have a job when finished. In the US there is a perception that the vocational or trades route mean failure. We tend to think of trades as an expense, dangerous or someone that works on an assembly line. Some people just get bored sitting in a classroom.

brewtide 4y ago
100%. Stuff that needs done, will still need done and a lot of it is going to be difficult to robot away. The trades have never been busier, and all the different trades I see at different job sites have the 30 whatever being the young person. Not only are they in demand, but can pay pretty decently as well, plus have directly applicable individual life uses, causing most of us tradesmen to spend very little $ maintaining our own things (cars, houses, etc). Go to college, awesome. Or learn to use your hands and do something well, awesome. The stuck in retail / service middle ground seems to be the hardest path in life, and obviously so very subjective, but I'd find that long term path not very internally rewarding, either.

itronitron 4y ago

Yeah, probably the main reason that US high schools seem to perform worse than other countries is that the US doesn't kick students out in middle school.