You digress. I am all for including trades in the school curriculum. Who decided everyone should be a college grad? Often it is unrealistic parents who push their children into this, while often discouraging them when they want to pursue other endeavors. I was awarded a scholarship to a prestigious art school in L.A. when I was in high school. My parents made me turn it down because "artists" never make any money. From what I have seen, this backward and strictly materialistic way of thinking is even more rampant today then it was when I was a kid.
Good point PrimeCorpusSpongiosum...
Trades are ridiculously underrated and looked down upon. Our system has failed this way. I have several friends who are specialized mechanics, plumbers, electricians make low 6 figs and enjoying their work. They are builders and damn good at it.
Going Carollaesque here but pisses me off when the douchey left cries about schools cutting down on music and theater programs. Hey I get it art is "good" for your mind, the kid who play violin has a 4.0 GPA so it must be the music (not to mention he practices 8 hours a day so it's more about ethics than muzics). But I digress.
Shop, motherfucking shop and building shit. Promote it, cherish it. I stopped to help a 17yo kid the other day who was literally in tears 'cause he couldn't change his flat tire (oh peace). Pulled the jack out of the hummer and helped the poor emo.
Nevertheless, all this is pointless, 5 years from now, a critical mass of middle to upper middle class are going to be home schooled and this is going to be a game changer.
A friend of mind has two sons. Home schooled. the 17yo is starting in Berkeley in August and the 19yo is a senior at UC Davis. Greatest, most polite and mentally mature and balanced kids I've ever seen. Did I mentioned they're in San Leandro one of the shittiest school district on the Bay Area?