It seems like there’s always a shortage of skilled workers.
The carpentry industry has seen many shortages since 2003. Maybe its the case for HVAC, plumbing, etc etc.
The same took place at the HS where I was a faculty member until my retirement. One factor in eliminating that auto shop was that the PE Department wanted that space, so that they could use it as a Fitness Center.
But, we probably could have continued the Auto Shop class if were still able to find a qualified teacher. The last truly qualified instructor left for greener pastures, and the two subsequent instructors were certified as Industrial Arts teachers, but had zero background in anything automotive.
The last one drove up one day in his '59 Caddy “convertible”–which had been a Coupe de Ville the previous week. I asked him how he had reinforced the frame and the cowl area after sawing-off the roof, and he stared at me blankly. When I told him that the convertible model had additional structural steel in the cowl area, and that it had a “beefier” frame, he had no clue as to what I was talking about.
He was gone by the end of the year, and since he was the second unqualified instructor–with no qualified replacements in sight–the Principal ended the program and turned the shop over to the PE Department.
The township where I live, is a normal middle class suburb of Philadelphia in Southern New Jersey. The school district here stopped providing any shop classes or any vocational classes for the reason that the majority of students in the district go on to college after high school. The populace here is middle class and aspirational and believes that blue-collar training is not a recipe for success in the 21st century.
That is also true in my area of Central NJ, but our county vocational schools have beefed-up their offerings over the years, and they are top-notch.
What made them even stronger in the last decade or so is that they are now dual-purpose: In addition to excellent vocational/technical programs, they are also county-wide magnet schools for students who want to go into STEM careers, and as a result the county “vocational” schools in Middlesex, Union, and Somerset counties are now among the highest-rated in the state.
And, as you probably know, NJ’s schools are consistently ranked as #1 or #2 in the nation, so these schools are now truly in the elite ranks.
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That is a brilliant idea.
Maybe ten years ago in the last budget crisis, the auto shop program was being discontinued. There was an outcry but to be honest I can’t recall if it was ever added again. I have always been an advocate for both boys and girls being exposed to metal, wood shop, and home ec. Seems pretty basic to me. Then all the arguments of not enough time and qualified instructors and so on.
Now if you delve deeper into the teacher certification requirements, it is pretty clear why there might be a problem finding qualified staffing. However there are quite competent local shop owners that might like spending a few hours a week in the classroom. The local prison finds qualified shop instructors that have not completed the teacher educational credits, and the students there are a little rougher than the standard 11th grader. The subject that is not to be discussed among non club members.
Surprising Even in the rural area I grew up in the western USA, no more high school auto shop. Definitely nothing like that at any of the high schools in Silicon Valley, at least that I’m aware of. Community college for auto shop here. Your high schools still offer auto shop? Are you speaking of the USA?
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Some local school districts in Maryland have vocational high schools. Baltimore City, for instance does. If someone isn’t interested in college they can go there. There’s even one in my education-rabid county.
I have a problem scheduling with some local specialist doctors due to some of them having a similar work week to my own- 4 10 hour days with Fridays off. I liked having Fridays off BECAUSE I could schedule doctor appointments on my day off, but with them being off on Fridays as well, I STILL need to use vacation time to see some of them. I know my pulmonary doctor has said he works Fridays at Grant Medical, which is about 50 miles away, and I’m considering taking future appointments with him down there just to save vacation time(thankfully it’s once a year now for his appointments)
Virtual examinations and consultations have gotten pretty popular unless the knife or big equipment is needed.
I’m in Olympia Washington, Graduated from North Thurston High School in 1994 while also doing a hands on program for Auto Parts at New Market Skills Center which is basically a trade school for high school students in Tumwater that’s shared among 11 districts most of them wouldn’t have any trade offering at all so those schools get priority if there’s more students signing up than spaces in the class. Auto Tech is still offered at Norh Thurston (major remodel in the last 10yrs included improvements to the 1960’s era Auto Shop along with welding and Horticulture.
Both North Thurston and New Market have dual credit arrangements with the community college as long as the student finishes with a good enough grade average. Could start at the community college with 5 credits in the program while only paying a small class fee.
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I’ve done it with a former primary doctor, but not any of the specialists I see, but have not been told if the specialists provide that service, and my job doesn’t really provide breaks just whenever for things like that.
I have set break and lunch times and I may get an extra break, but usually have to ask for one in between our normal break times. And my work hours are 6am to 4:30pm; I can take half or full day vacations- no out and back.
I have worked with my primary doctor to get FMLA time so if I can’t get vacation time for an appointment, I can use FMLA time in a pinch.