Touchy Topic Tuesday- Education vs Trade. Is a degree SO important?

Touchy Topic Tuesday

Education vs Trade: Is a degree SO important?

Months ago, I engaged in a facebook conversation about education now-a-days, how expensive it is, how those going to school now will spend the rest of their lives paying it off, and how sad it is that, despite it's impossibility to afford, it's so necessary that even a person with a physical TRADE skill can't get a job without it. 

I had intended to write this as today's Touchy Topic anyway, but, in googling the subject of Trade Skills vs. Education for blog fodder, I came across an article that encompasses EVERYTHING I intended to say about the education part anyway, and I feel the need to share it. 

"Education in America- Read the Fine Print talks about education being almost entirely out of reach for American middle class people, based on it's astronomical cost, and the problems that exist inside the educational system anyway- the things they AREN'T teaching, that we SHOULD be getting in order to be successful in THE WORLD.

On top of all that, I have further ideas to explore.

Back in the 80's, when I was raised, I recall multiple television shows and movies that continually made fun of college. Why would anyone go to college? It was a ludicrous idea to many people- at that time, Trade schools were booming, and people were learning valuable skills using hands-on techniques. Artisans. Those who worked in bakeries, who built buildings- stone masons, electricians, carpenters, contractors, and so on, people who built instruments, roads and many other things, were finding great opportunities and were widely respected.

By the time I graduated from high school, an explicit value was placed on college education. Well, SOME college education. A couple of years, maybe an associates degree or so was admired and hireable. Now, a decade later, there is so much value placed on education, that a person simply can't be hired without the maximum amount. Bachelors degree? Not good enough.

It's something that my husband and I have battled since we got married. I was 22 when we tied the knot, and I went to school for 3 years, goofed off a bit, and escaped with an Associates degree. My husband, at the time, didn't have a degree, but had his associates degree by the time he joined the United States Air Force a year after we got married. He was 23, and he was behind because of the two years he spent serving an LDS mission in Kingston, Jamaica.

The military promised free education, and was the main draw for us to join. What we didn't know was that they would leave him ZERO time to actually take classes. It wasn't until our 3rd year of active duty that he was able to enroll.

Upon our separation from the military, Brandon found it infinitely difficult to find a job. Due to his training and type of job WITH the military, he met all qualifications for jobs in leadership experience, working with hazardous materials, and so on. Most of the time, he exceeded the requirements. What he didn't have was a Bachelors degree. He spent two more years, under employed, working days going to school at night, and recently received his Bachelors degree.

We thought it would be easier for him to get hired now that he HAS the BS, AND two more years of experience. In two years, the requirements have jumped to a Masters, and requires even more experience. Disappointed, my husband has set his sights higher- to an MBA with an emphasis on advertising. Two more years and we should be set, right? Like, what are they going to do next? Add another degree? Triple the experience required? It's the end of the line.

Often, it feels like that light at the end of the tunnel is really just a train.

This isn't the first experience I've witnessed, though. My dad is a drywall contractor. He has been my whole life and throughout my childhood, he made an excellent living. He is actually quite the artist. My dad is a perfectionist, and what he does is always good work. On top of that, he can do anything. And that's not just a little girl goo-goo eyed for her perfect daddy. He really can. Tile, plumbing, welding, heat/air, appliances, carpet, remodeling, electronics- anything. You name it, he can do it, and he can do it, and well. Any engine hums happily after a visit to my dad. Yeah- he can fix your car too.

My dad has near FORTY YEARS of experience under his capable belt.

Just after I started college, my dad's company, where he was partner for over 20 years, paid employees, made an excellent, trusted name for himself, went out of business. He has struggled, since, to provide for my family- marrying off two girls and a son, paying for my brother's mission, and my youngest brother's diabetes, which happened right in the midst of his company going under.

Now, my dad is the best handyman West Jordan has EVER seen. He gets work by word of mouth, and does pretty decently. But he can't get licensed as a professional contractor the way he once was, nor can he be hired with another contracting company. Know why? Education. He doesn't have any.

My dad never went to college. After high school, my dad spent years as an apprentice, learning a TRADE.

Education for him is so expensive, and- get this- he makes too much money to qualify for government grants and student loans! Nevermind that he makes less money than my underemployed husband does. Nevermind that he has dependent children. It's so far out of his reach that it's hopeless to even try. And it becomes a vicious cycle.

Ivory Homes, a pretty big-time building company here in Utah- one my dad actually worked for before the creation of his business, Venture West, in his younger days, won't hire him, despite his excellent resume (he built most of the western Salt Lake Valley) and vast experience. The problem? Once again, the issue is my dad's lack of a degree. They would rather hire some 25 year old kid who spent the last 6 years sitting in a desk, getting his masters, who doesn't know a bazooka from a knife (don't worry, they're drywall tools), than they would my dad- who has no degree...but obviously knows what he's doing. I mean, if this were Hell's Kitchen, my dad would win.

Heck, even home owners are getting picky about it all- they, too, would rather hire someone based on college education as opposed to experience and referral- since that's all the business my dad gets is word of mouth.

Now, this isn't just all about me and it's not, by any means, a pity party. We're all happy, and we're on our feet, and we're making it just fine. But I know there are others out there. In the first job Brandon worked when we moved out here to Utah after the military, he met more than a handful of welders and carpenters and electricians who are in the same boat as my dad.

And we come back to the question: Is it REALLY that necessary in ALL cases? A surgeon? You bet, if I am about be operated on, I want to know that my doctor spent hours in classrooms learning all about my body and it's organs and functions so that, when he gets in there, knows how to fix it and put it back. A teacher? Uh, yeah. I want to know that the person who is teaching a subject to ME has actually spent time studying the subject. But some of these hands on jobs, these artisan trades, are only perfected through experiencing them. Through labor and apprenticeship. It doesn't matter how many years you spend in a desk, reading a book, doing math problems...there's a huge difference in knowing, in theory, how to weld a pipe, than there is in doing it.

I am not by any means disparaging education. I actually find education VERY important. I expect all my children to go to college and get degrees that will help them support their families and give them satisfactory lifestyles. I don't think, at all, that some education could hurt my dad, and as absolutely brilliant as he is, he'd do very well with it. But, considering what he knows about his trade- and believe me, that's inside and out- he wouldn't use a lick of his education, really. At least not anything that he doesn't already know.  And it's getting more and more expensive every year. Kids fresh out of high school can't afford it now, how can a person of middle-age or beyond afford to go back to school when there is so much resting on their shoulders? And what the heck is wrong with people and businesses who can't recognize when education matters less than skill?

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What do you think? How do you feel about the cost of a decent, University level education these days? How do you feel about skill vs. degree? Do you feel that there is a time and a place, or is it really absolutely necessary for every person to have a high education? Are you or someone you know stuck in this same predicament?  Let us know!!!


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Touchy Topic Tuesday- Airport Security Checks, Thankfulness Project, Day 8,

Thankfulness Project, Day 8

November 8, 2011, Tuesday

Today I am very thankful for my extended family.

1. My Dad, who somehow just seems to "get it" whenever I have an issue I have to discuss- never mind that, generally speaking, I just sit and talk, per my big fat motor mouth, and he nods and listens and smiles at opportune times when something I say rings in all too true. He's always there.

2. My mom, who knows when to let me have my space and do the "grown up" thing on my own, and when I need to be mothered, even though I'm almost 30. In so many ways, I want to be like her, and I'm not sure I can live up to it. But she's an excellent, compassionate, driven, and energetic example to me.

3 My brother, Biege, who is very easily my best friend. I wish I got to hang out with him more often. My blog would not work if it weren't for him, and he is my dictionary for random video game information- specifically so that I can understand the geek jokes he wears on his t-shirts.

4. My sister in law, Shalynn, who is amazing, supportive, gorgeous, and has a gift wrapping talent that kind of makes me jealous. I've called her, before, "the girl of my dreams" - she's as geeky as my brother, but you can't tell by looking at her. She fits into our family like she was born there, so much that I look back and can't really remember what it was like without her.

5. My sister, Bergan, because she always makes me feel wanted and appreciated. When I babysat her as a kid, I never really imagined we'd be close. But now we are, and it makes me so happy! I miss her sometimes. And I am always excited to see her.

6. My new brother in law, Spencer, who is as crazy as my brother, Biege, judging from all his firework stories, and is quietly funny. He loves my kids, tolerates them, even though they can be intense, and loves my sister even more. Like Shalynn, he just fits right in, like a piece of the puzzle.

7. My youngest brother, Bozton, who is another person I never thought I'd be close to, because he's so much younger than I am. But the gap has closed. He's talented in so many areas- he writes incredible poetry, and builds really weird, but strangely fascinating contraptions, and just has the creative heart of an inventor. He is going to be an engineer someday, and I'm glad. He'll do well at it.

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Touchy Topic Tuesday- Airport Security Checks

(And if you're irritated by my Christmas music before thanksgiving, please visit THIS TOUCHY TOPIC TUESDAY to give me a piece of your mind.)

As a kid, I flew on planes often. Back and forth to Arizona from Utah to visit my grandparents, to Disneyland, I was pretty used to planes and the procedures you followed to get through. And I was never afraid.

In my older years, I flew on multiple planes to get to Jamaica for my honeymoon, and from New Jersey several times back to Utah for weddings and visits to my family- several of those times with children.

Now a days, though, you'd be hard pressed to get me on a plane. Too much likelihood of dying.

So, every which way you look, every news channel, all over youtube and so on, people are talking about all the stuff going on over at the airport.

You know what I mean: Airport Security Checks. Are they ethical? Are they too invasive? Should they be done on children?

Well, here's my piece, and then you can feel free to flog me if you want.

Maybe it's because I'm not a terribly private person- I'm modest, but I'm not terribly private. I'm also a big believer in "necessity." Like, when I gave birth and there were half a dozen med school students looking wide eyed at the giant bloody mess that was my nether region and I just didn't care a lick. Or my inability to even feel a slight sense of bashfulness when I have to get my yearly exam from my doctor, or ask him "embarrassing" questions, the details of which I won't go into- for YOUR sake, not mine. BUT, I am 100% honest when I say, if I were to be randomly selected for a thorough search, I would have very VERY little problem standing there while the worker squeezed my boobs, my butt and everywhere else too. I have nothing to hide. I'm not going to act like I do. Furthermore, I understand that women check women now, and men check men. So, there wouldn't even be the uncomfortable question "is he poking that because he's a perv or because he thinks I have a machete hidden in my 34-B?"

I'm even going to go as far as to say that I would be happy to let them search my child. For one, kids aren't as dumb as most adults seem to think they are. And if I were to explain to my child, before hand, that when we go on a plane, it is important for the workers to make sure no one, even kids, have anything dangerous hidden in their clothes so that everyone on the plane can be kept safe, and that, while it is NOT okay for people to touch them inappropriately, this particular procedure is not meant to take advantage of them, but to keep them safe, I am one THOUSAND percent sure that my kids would say "okay." and know what to expect and never think of it again. I've had to have the EXACT same conversation with them when they go in for their yearly well child checks and the doctor has to check their private parts for proper development. I see no difference.

WHY would I be okay with that, you ask? I'll tell you: Because people who are willing to smuggle explosives, weapons, drugs, or any other dangerous thing, are usually not the kind of people who look at a little kid and say "Oh, poor innocent child, I think I'll give them a safe distance from me. Maybe I WON'T blow up this plane." - no, people who are going to do those things are not in high standing and are never above such things as using children for their immoral endeavors. You think I'm delusional? Watch the news for 5 minutes.

That being said, since these guidelines of x-ray vision that shows passengers, essentially naked (which I think, having seen the machines before, is quite the stretch of imagination. It's not like it shows you as a hot Victoria Secret model running around with explosives strapped to her thighs. It's black and white and pretty fuzzy unless there is something detected, which it shows in a brighter shade of gray or white.) so as to find dangerous items, and invasive pat downs, NOT ONE terrorist has been found by these people. Drugs? Yes, occasionally. But terrorists have never been found, and attempts on planes have still been discovered and, luckily thwarted. But the fact that they happened on the planes is testament that the process is not working. Terrorists made it past the gates.

The problem? Pat downs are "random". Workers are not allowed to profile. So, they see someone suspicious, they very well may pass them up if they match a profile they're not allowed to "attack", and go instead for the young mom with two kids hanging on her shirt.

At least in most videos I've watched, the workers have the grace to look sufficiently forlorn about their responsibility and embarrassed to boot.

My opinion here: Invasively search EVERYONE, or don't search ANYONE.

When it comes down to this, I just feel that, while we live in America, Land of the Free (or, more accurately, Land of "leave me alone. I'll do what I want, when I want, where I want, and you can't stop me because I could sue you.") we also live in a world where personal safety is something that other people (terrorists, rapists, murderers, drug dealers, and so on) don't take very seriously or care about. I would rather be patted down and have SOME semblance of security when I get on a plane than to just watch everyone board the plane on the honor system.

Now, we have two options here.

1. If you don't want to be patted down, don't ride a plane. (I won't in any near future. But not because of the pat downs. Because I hear more and more about plane crashes that have nothing to do with terrorists, and I'm not willing to die that way.) - which is pretty much how I see it.

or

2. No one gets checked, and if you don't want to risk the possibility of terrorists on your flight, don't fly.

I agree with either one. Specifically because either way- over security or no security, I won't be flying.

Now, of course, we see awful stories like THIS ONE that don't help TSA's cause in the slightest. But the risk is there: We know exactly what goes on when we want to board a plane. If you're not willing to risk it happening to you, don't get on a plane. Otherwise, realize that it's a possibility.

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Kay, discuss!!! Remember, though- behave yourself. Discussion and disagreements are fine, but foul language, mean or belittling comments, or name calling is not allowed, and comments with such will be deleted immediately.

Thanks!

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