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"Local HS Grads and street corner loafers. they have, I have observed: (A) No physical ability, i.e. an 8-hour day is killer! (b) No reading and writing ability which translates into a profound inability to follow written instructions (c)No shift discipline, i.e. ability to show upn time for shift or 5 0r 6 days in a row. (D) It also goes without saying that they have had no mechanical training, which gave older workers a modicum of industrial "common sense." They in some cases must be tiaught to use a screwdriver, and the accident rates among new hires are very high."

You're spot on. In one of my previous lives I was managing editor for a trade magazine publisher. While touring a new Kubota tractor plant in SC (?) I was basically told the same thing by the plant manager.

Their biggest problem was finding welders. They could not find enough to operate the plant at more than half capacity. They placed ads everywhere and even went to the local high-schools to find recruits. They offered to pay people $10-15 an hour just to train them, after which they could make as much as $20-25 an hour plus benefits and all the overtime they could handle. NO RESPONSE! (I really considered quiting my editors job and signing up on the spot - better hours and bennies, and less stress).

The same problem is occuring with skilled trades like vehicle and equipment maintanance. ASE and other organizations who train and certify mechanics for maintenance trades say the pipeline is broken. The few applicants they do get need remedial math, english, and other skills before they can even begin the training programs.

The Culprit? Our schools! Back in the late 60's and early 70's, the education establishment started cutting back on vocational programs (auto and wood shops) in the nations high-schools.

These programs served as a "secondary track" for those students who had no interest or inclination to continue on to college and provided necessary skills to move on in the Blue Collar world. This seems like a good idea doesn't it? And it was.

But then someone (probably Jesse Jackson), noticed that most of the kids in these programs were minorities and working class white kids. These programs were dubbed racist and elitist.

Why weren't these kids all being prepared for college? Who cares if they want to go or not?

Then schools started getting graded (and funded) based on how many of their students did well on SAT's and then matriculated on to college. The final nail in the coffin was Title 9.

Mention "Dual Tracking" and "Vocational Education" to most Phd'd educators and they will react like a vampire who just bit into a garlic sandwich and washed it down with a shot of holy water.

Because of this, most high-schools no longer have any vocational training. Now you either go to college or settle for flipping burgers because you have no other useful skills and even less work ethic. Go to college or go to hell is the attitude.

Most vocational training still left in this country is performed by the U.S. Military. As the last avenue left for those who are not going to college, even Uncle Sam has been chased off of most campi.

Today, a good ASE certifed mechanic can and will make more money than the average college grad with a 4-year degree. A lot of those poor kids who bought into the "you have to go to college" trap are now flipping burgers alongside todays functional illiterates (shift manager if they're lucky).