The Need for Trades

 Before I go any further into my college series, I want to point out alternatives. For years, schools have pushed the college path without stating the alternatives. When I started teaching, I was on this bandwagon because it was all I knew. However, I now advocate for the trades and push for them more so than I do the military or college.

The need for trades has grown in the past two decades due to retirements. My dad was a tradesman selling HVAC and heating/air conditioning units both commercially/domestically. He made more money in his working lifetime than my mom ever did teaching with a Masters. He had no college debt (nor did Mom), enjoyed working with people, and made a decent living.

The trades do take a mental and physical toll on people. However, with an apprenticeship a tradesman or tradeswoman could easily make a good fortune, even if they are taking courses at the same time. The downside of the trades injury are long hours, physical injuries, and it can be a dirty job.  I advocate for those jobs because you could apprentice and then when you earn the license you have little to no student loan debt. Furthermore, a lot of people consider the trades to be beneath them. This needs to stop because trades people can earn a decent amount of money and again no debt.

The demand for trades will only continue to grow but schools are pushing the college path still. This NEEDS to stop. There are students who do not want to go to college or in the military. We need to stop telling high schoolers that its one or the other after graduation.

 Now you can go to a community college and learn a trade.  This is done primarily in rural counties and counties that may not have a trade school. I know the community college I went to in North Carolina had the trades. There were also places that advertised in the newspaper that they would train apprentices and students in the trades. 

In Michigan, there are currently trade schools near the urban areas (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Bay City, etc.) that students can enroll in. Another good thing about Michigan is the RESA's/Intermediate School Districts that had trades programs. I know other states such as Arizona, Texas, and Ohio have these programs out there. I went to a RESA in Michigan before moving down to North Carolina my senior year and we had a trades program. These students are tough and are usually hired right after graduating high school. I have taught juniors before and they have gone on after their senior year right into a trade.

My dad told me flat out that the best thing for anyone considering the trades is to see out those currently in the field to learn.  

It needs to happen. Push for the Trades.