Poor Training, Not Free Trade, Is Killing the American Worker

[longknife]

Interesting essay. Whatever happened to vocational training in our school systems? Now, we start kids out at the lowest levels preparing them for college. I find myself wondering if the biggest problem is a lack of qualified master tradesmen who do not wish to leave heir lucrative positions to teach.

Only about one-third of adult US population 25 and older have completed a bachelor’s degree. About 75% of Germany’s private-economy workforce, meanwhile, has taken part in the country’s superb system of vocational training with apprenticeships. The closest the US comes is the associate arts degrees that are awarded by community colleges, but only about 5% of the American workers’ schooling ends in an AA degree.

There follows a whole lot of graphs to back up the author's commentary. I'll let you check them out for yourselves.

Story @ Poor Training, Not Free Trade, Is Killing the American Worker: What's Behind the Numbers?

 

[Fenton Lum]

About 75% of Germany’s private-economy workforce, meanwhile, has taken part in the country’s superb system of vocational training with apprenticeships.

Can't do that here, folks caterwaul about "socialism".

 

[Owsi68]

Interesting essay. Whatever happened to vocational training in our school systems? Now, we start kids out at the lowest levels preparing them for college. I find myself wondering if the biggest problem is a lack of qualified master tradesmen who do not wish to leave heir lucrative positions to teach.

Only about one-third of adult US population 25 and older have completed a bachelor’s degree. About 75% of Germany’s private-economy workforce, meanwhile, has taken part in the country’s superb system of vocational training with apprenticeships. The closest the US comes is the associate arts degrees that are awarded by community colleges, but only about 5% of the American workers’ schooling ends in an AA degree.

There follows a whole lot of graphs to back up the author's commentary. I'll let you check them out for yourselves.

Story @ Poor Training, Not Free Trade, Is Killing the American Worker: What's Behind the Numbers?

This would never work in America ....

They require you to eventually learn the German language just because you will live and work in Germany. You have to apply and interview in-person, as if you were a motivated and competent adult. And there are no special exemptions or accommodations for those in protected categories (race, religion, etc). In fact, they seem to evaluate people solely on their aspirations and talents along with displayed skills.

Unacceptable!!! Nein!!!

You can have my EBT card when you pry it from my unemployed Flamin' Hot Cheetos fingers!

 

[Agit8r]

The problem facing the average worker today is that those who are employed have--since the 2008 crash--been expected to do the work of 2 or 3 people, so that those jobs are eliminated.

 

[longknife]

My son dropped out of High School for reasons we won't go into here. He ended up learning to be a carpenter for which he seems to have a natural aptitude. With a little effort and attentiveness, he recently got a job for a company selling high-end furniture online. They ship from their sources to a local warehouse. His job is to repair any damage occuring during shipment.

In a very short time, he's become expert at it and his employer has given him unlimited authority, even supervising someone who had worked for them before. It may not seem like much but I've heard he's making over $40 an hour - pretty good for someone who just got his GED.

On top of that, he's an artist.

 

[DGS49]

Comparing the U.S. to Germany in just about anything academic is ludicrous, and is certain to result in the U.S. looking bad. There is a two-word explanation for this:

Eye.

Cue.

The average IQ among the native German population is north of 110. The population (at least until now) is largely homogeneous, with broadly shared values of diligence, perseverance, and a love of precision and predictability (which is not always a good thing). Their schools are based on principles of meritocracy and they are not afraid of academic competition, as we are.

They do not waste their time or efforts pursuing silly, counterproductive, fads like "diversity," nor do they pretend that unqualified, lazy, or stupid people are just as capable of learning as those who are otherwise. In short, they don't waste their time or efforts on nonsense, as we do in the U.S.

Their education system is not perfect; there is little opportunity for "late bloomers" (like me), who are intelligent but don't mature until adulthood. But compared to ours, it is worlds better.

Our system excels in areas where creativity is paramount, which is why we are the world leader in computer/software innovation, and in new technologies generally.

 

[Unkotare]

...

They do not waste their time or efforts pursuing silly, counterproductive, fads like "diversity," ....

Gender and Diversity, B.A. | Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences



https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/46821162/Diversity-Concept-Goethe-University.pdf



Gender and Diversity Competence • Education • Freie Universität Berlin



Diversity in German Education

 

[mgh80]

My son dropped out of High School for reasons we won't go into here. He ended up learning to be a carpenter for which he seems to have a natural aptitude. With a little effort and attentiveness, he recently got a job for a company selling high-end furniture online. They ship from their sources to a local warehouse. His job is to repair any damage occuring during shipment.

In a very short time, he's become expert at it and his employer has given him unlimited authority, even supervising someone who had worked for them before. It may not seem like much but I've heard he's making over $40 an hour - pretty good for someone who just got his GED.

On top of that, he's an artist.

I'm very glad to hear it worked out for your son. The problem is that he's an exception-not the norm.

I do agree that we should focus more on alternatives to college/univeristy however.