Proud Vermonter here, very happy to read about the new college model in Montpelier. As someone who did not enjoy school, this plan would be my ideal. Learning by doing followed by more learning on the job with real world applications. That's the way I've learned throughout my career and although I know it's not meant for everyone, it would work for many. Construction is like this model, in case any of your kids or grandkids are interested. We need tradespeople! No degree necessary, hands on learning, decent salary, no loans to pay off. Spread the word!
My younger son learned that lesson well as has my grandson. They are both welders. I’m not sure what route my grandson took but my son joined the welders and pipefitters union and learned the trade on their dime. The need for plumbers, electricians, anything that has to do with building, is critical and if you are good at what you do you can almost write your own paycheck. There will always be some things that AI and robots cannot do.
So, so true. We are begging kids, women, veterans to join the trades all while trying to change the perception that the trades are "less than". If people only knew the high level of intelligence it takes to construct anything, the perception would change immediately.
Caveat to what I’m about to say: I’m retired 7 years now, so my opinion might be outdated. The workplace “values” individual achievement to the point where occasionally, teamwork will be discouraged. The reasoning is that during deliberations on salary actions “…we won’t know who did what”, and it will not be possible to properly evaluate employee performance. Even in a place that evaluates the number and quality of internal emails, individual performance is valued directly in salary adjustments. The belief that individual performance is better than team performance is probably still pretty deep in culture of companies.
Jeez Bill, the very next article contained the phrase “But you also take out your own trash” in reference to rebuilding college education. I bet this was international on your part.
Proud Vermonter here, very happy to read about the new college model in Montpelier. As someone who did not enjoy school, this plan would be my ideal. Learning by doing followed by more learning on the job with real world applications. That's the way I've learned throughout my career and although I know it's not meant for everyone, it would work for many. Construction is like this model, in case any of your kids or grandkids are interested. We need tradespeople! No degree necessary, hands on learning, decent salary, no loans to pay off. Spread the word!
My younger son learned that lesson well as has my grandson. They are both welders. I’m not sure what route my grandson took but my son joined the welders and pipefitters union and learned the trade on their dime. The need for plumbers, electricians, anything that has to do with building, is critical and if you are good at what you do you can almost write your own paycheck. There will always be some things that AI and robots cannot do.
So, so true. We are begging kids, women, veterans to join the trades all while trying to change the perception that the trades are "less than". If people only knew the high level of intelligence it takes to construct anything, the perception would change immediately.
Caveat to what I’m about to say: I’m retired 7 years now, so my opinion might be outdated. The workplace “values” individual achievement to the point where occasionally, teamwork will be discouraged. The reasoning is that during deliberations on salary actions “…we won’t know who did what”, and it will not be possible to properly evaluate employee performance. Even in a place that evaluates the number and quality of internal emails, individual performance is valued directly in salary adjustments. The belief that individual performance is better than team performance is probably still pretty deep in culture of companies.
Jeez Bill, the very next article contained the phrase “But you also take out your own trash” in reference to rebuilding college education. I bet this was international on your part.
As usual, a good round up of weekend reading. Thanks Bill.