By 803056
Date 04-13-2007 22:01
Edited 04-13-2007 22:06
Hello Bill;
Helpful or not, its the sad truth.
Technical training opportunities in Connecticut and many other states has taken a back seat to courses that only require a text book and an instructor. Technical courses such as welding, machining, automotive, etc. are very expensive in comparison to other training.
Many states have forgotten the purpose of vocational training. They have forgotten their purpose is to train people to have basic skills needed by industry. Forsight isn't a requirement to becoming an Education Commissioner and the even though the Superintendent hired by the Board of Education has a doctorate degree, his/her studies didn't include any course work on the needs of U.S. industry. These are the same people that said it was a waste of time training computer programmers because the computers would "learn" to program themselves, all manufacturing was going overseas, its a waste of money to invest in the facilities and training in areas such as machining, welding, etc.
It is because of their "short sight" that the shipyard in Mississippi (if I remember correctly) is bring in 200 welders from India because they could not find the number of welders needed locally (and they didn't want to pay the wages necessary to draw workers from other areas of the country). It is CHEAPER to give them a temporary work visa. Remember what Bush said, "They are only doing the work Americans don't want to do."
Good God, "IS IT 2008 YET?"
I guess it isn't just Connecticut. Its the education system as a whole. Even out local high schools have shut down the industrial arts departments in favor of less expensive courses like "study hall".
Best regards - Al