[fella]

"How many people hear high school students say they want to become machinists?"

Hardly an high schools have shop class any more and most of the machine shops have closed.

[VTenigma]

Both of my sons. Both I encouraged to take advanced machining courses in college as a plan B. My oldest graduated last year as a electro/mechanical engineer and now has a kick butt job, but he can always fall back on CNC machine programming and set up.

My youngest is enrolled in a degreed machining program for 2 years after a background year of machining in H.S. After that he will attend a 24 month A/P aircraft technician course. These kids were taught skills at home as well. both are Eagle Scouts, both held jobs in H.S. Both are conservative and have their eyes wide open.

These kids have serious skills. There will be no underwater basket weavers in this family and that was made clear for their entire lives. They were taught there is no free lunch in life and if you want a better life you dig in and make it for yourself.

[Eisenhower Republican]

"How many people hear high school students say they want to become machinists?"

More than you might think, it turns out. A professor did an informal survey in a classroom I was in. He asked how many people (engineering students) would want to take a full semester class on the subject. About 90% of the room raised their hands.

Machining classes are expensive to provide, so very few schools do anymore.