Years ago I knew a kid graduating from high school. I asked him what he was going to do. He said he was going to be trained to be a power line worker. I saw him a couple of years later and asked if he did it and if he was making enough money. This was in the 80's or 90's and he was making over 100,000 a year!
Smart kid!
Our high school used to have classes for kids that wanted to be electricians, carpenters, mechanics and plumbers. All these classes were supported the the appropriate union and they all got jobs. Now, I think, they are down to carpenters. They also used to build a house every year and then auction it off. That too has stopped. I have no idea why. I once asked but could never really get a good answer.
Now everybody seems to be headed to college. We have a local college. They used to teach advanced mechanics (for cars) and a lot of other stuff. Now they have gone to 4 years, dumped most of the trades stuff, except when it comes to nurses. Have also wondered about that one. I have always thought that schools teaching
trades was a really good thing. Now, when I need a plumber, for instance, I have one hell of a time finding one that's available because there are not that many anymore.
