I’m a high school grad that was in the aviation maintenance trade one way or another my whole career and I was able to retire before i reached 60 and I’m very proud of all that.
I’m not rich but I never wanted to be in the 1st place....but my wife and I very comfortable living in Florida in a home and have 2 vehicles that are all paid for and our retirement income really more than we need.
Spot on. There will always be a need for electricians, welders, pipe fitters, brick layers and other such skilled trades. It’s what makes stuff work. Folks with degrees in Minority Trans Women’s Menstrual Cycles, not so much.
BTTT
I just read a biography of Booker T. Washington. His Tuskegee Institute was a wonderful school of skills for both earning a living and living a good life.
More recently I have seen some smaller colleges foster more practical majors, particularly in medical allied health careers.
I would say enhancing the vocational skills curriculum with a few classes of general ed to help people have the joy of some humanities, history, philosophy is a good thing.
I have a friend who teaches a philosophy class at a trade tech school. He loves his students. They have already worked a full day by the time they get to his classroom, but are genuinely interested and engaged in the material. It’s an optional class. A lot different than teaching bored young people.