Years ago, Vo-Techs were independent institutions ran by the states. Nowadays, many of these institutions have been absorbed into the “community college systems” that have become so common. Instead of a diploma that was based on cumulative hours in the craft, gradsuates now receive actual college diplomas in these areas of study.

So what.

In this employment environment, guaranteed the person who is ASE certified in auto repair will find a job faster than the billionth person who is finance major or a business admin major.

My finance degree isn’t doing be a hill of crap right now in finding a job.

But if I were ASE certified I could choose from about eight places within fifteen minutes of me all that are hiring now.

However, just turning those professions into honorary degrees isn’t going to do it. A college degree implies some in-depth study of abstract theory as well as application, and usually some training in research or the process of creating new knowledge in the field. That training doesn’t make a college graduate a better person than someone without a degree, but it does represent an area of knowledge that you don’t get with a vocational degree.

It’s also not just a problem with perception. Abstract thinking, research / creative skills, and training in theoretical concepts are all major factors for increasing personal income, since those skills allow the worker to benefit from automation and technology to magnify their efforts. That’s almost guaranteed to provide an “easier” (in terms of physical effort) work environment, and an increased income. At least SOME of the perceived inferiority from those not in that position is accurate, since they either cannot make as much or are forced to sustain higher levels of physical labor (or both). It makes sense that more people are attracted to those positions than the available jobs or aptitude would strictly suggest… people always try for the more desirable outcome, even sometimes when it’s unlikely.

“I think its a shame that colleges only push white collar ness and no real skills. and i dont think a college degree is necessary for most white collar jobs.”

I don’t know what you think a white collar job is, but it takes some effort to get a college degree without learning useful skills. Sure, some of them tend to be a bit slanted toward theory rather than application, but not so much that applying it to the real world is difficult.

These days, the trades and other blue collar jobs are looked down on, and the schools are too afraid of liability to offer shop classes. Parents are brainwashed into unrealistic expectations for their kids, and conclude they are being discriminated against if their kids are not treated as college material.

Take a look at who is actually working on your car or building that subdivision down the street. Chances are, those folks did not go to high school with you or your kids. Heck, a lot of them didn’t even finish high school. Look at the bill from the last time you called a licensed plumber or electrician (if you didn’t call an unlicensed handyperson). It’s not cheap to get things fixed or replaced. The hourly rate may not be as high as your CPA or attorney, but neither is the overhead. And very few of the college graduates we are turning out will ever achieve professional wages. Most of them will earn less than the licensed tradesperson you call.

It’s all about what work is valued by our society. These days, a higher value is placed on desk jobs pushing paper. That’s why we have so much illegal immigration and a schizophrenic attitude about it. For us to get back to a normal, balanced economy, we have to train people to do all the jobs out there and then expect them to do those jobs.

As a teacher (and I hate saying that I am a teacher b/c I don’t want to be grouped in with typical teacher mentality), I have been saying the same thing. Not everyone needs to go to college…however, everyone does need to further their education after high school in some capacity (if they want to make more than $7 an hour).

Nothing wrong with being an electrician, plumber, auto mechanic…after all, most of them make a whole lot more than I do!