caangel
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Post by caangel on Oct 2, 2023 15:35:28 GMT
I've got a 9th and 10th grader, am the PTO president of the HS and we are in So Cal.
I'm looking for a way to help parents and students navigate the path for trades. Our schools is trying and has lots of electives but it all feels very nebulous and unknown compared to the very well worn path to college.
I assume every trade has it's own unique pathway. I've heard that our local Community Colleges have many trade opportunities. But then in the discussion about "schools these days" someone mentioned not everyone needs to go to college even to learn a trade so I'm wondering what that looks like.
Our district is doing a College and Trade fair which will include military, public service jobs (police/fire fighter), SPED transition programs, etc. I'm trying to figure out either a speaker(s) that we would have to give families more information about these types of pathways.
What do these pathways look like in your area? Where do parents/students start? Where is a good place to get information on a variety of programs? If you/your child has gone the trade route what do you wish you would have known? What recommendations do you have?
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Post by katlady on Oct 2, 2023 16:21:06 GMT
Don’t you have trade schools around you? I think you are in SoCal right? LA Trade Tech is a public community college. It is part of the LA Community College network. Could you contact someone there to send out representatives for the different trades? Also, contact beauty schools.
ETA - I think the comment about not needing to go to college to learn a trade pertains more to a regular college. Everyone in a trade needs to learn the trade somewhere. An HVAC company is not going to hire someone with no knowledge. They are going to want to hire someone with at least a basic knowledge of HVAC units.
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Post by christine58 on Oct 2, 2023 16:26:50 GMT
Our students here in New York State can start their trade training in 11th grade. We have career and technical centers that students can go to for half a day. We offer cosmetology, culinary arts, legal Academy, auto body, auto tech, computer, information, animal science, criminal justice, just to name a couple. Students receive high school credit for these classes and some of those offer college credits. We have had students graduate from some of these programs and go right into a trade. We offer what’s called a building trades program where they actually help build a house. The graduation rate for these students is extremely high. Some when they get to be seniors in high school, will do an internship at a local business, machining, factory, etc. we’ve had students win, huge scholarships to Ohio diesel trade school just to name one.
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Post by katlady on Oct 2, 2023 16:35:17 GMT
Based on what christine58 said, I checked LA Trade Tech and they do have a Bridge to College program where high school students can take classes at Trade Tech while still in high school. I know not all LAUSD schools have the manpower or class space to hold their own tech classes, so this is a good option for the kids. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 2, 2023 16:40:46 GMT
NJ or at least my county has Vocational/tech four year high schools. They are full time in very assorted endeavors. HVAC, auto mechanics/auto body, construction, electronics, culinary, cosmetology and the list goes on. Oh, medical and sciences.. BTW: a whole lot more choices then when my DS went. There are also nursing etc degrees at the county College too Thinking at least 5+ Campuses with transportation . www.mcmsnj.net/CTE |
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River
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Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Oct 2, 2023 16:56:10 GMT
Our students here in New York State can start their trade training in 11th grade. We have career and technical centers that students can go to for half a day. We offer cosmetology, culinary arts, legal Academy, auto body, auto tech, computer, information, animal science, criminal justice, just to name a couple. Students receive high school credit for these classes and some of those offer college credits. We have had students graduate from some of these programs and go right into a trade. We offer what’s called a building trades program where they actually help build a house. The graduation rate for these students is extremely high. Some when they get to be seniors in high school, will do an internship at a local business, machining, factory, etc. we’ve had students win, huge scholarships to Ohio diesel trade school just to name one. This is what we have in our county in Alabama. In grades 11 and 12 students from the city school and 6 county schools sign up for classes at the Trade Center. They go for half a day every day. Several of the trades there count as college classes and/or you can earn your license if that's what your trade has, like cosmetology. Many students are able to go straight to work in their trade after graduation. The Trade Center also works with many companies in our area and helps place these students. Two of my sons did this and started work in maintance right out of high school. One has worked his way up to maintance director. The other came and took his brother's spot after he moved up. |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Oct 2, 2023 17:29:42 GMT
In addition to trade school, some unions offer direct apprenticeship programs. Most people I know went this route instead of trade school. I found this info for the LA area - don't have direct knowledge of these particular unions: laocbuildingtrades.org/apprenticeship-building-trades/ |
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Oct 2, 2023 17:42:01 GMT
We own a Union Millwright company. We have some employees that we have gotten from the local community college, but most of our union people started just by working through the union. They go to 'school' as part of their apprenticeship training. I would encourage that route if someone knows what trade they want to go into. Call up the local union office, or a local company and ask how to get started.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 2, 2023 17:55:55 GMT
There are several routes one can take to go into one of the trades here. People can go to a “vocational college” (used to be called VoTech) as a path to licensing or an apprenticeship which is what several of my siblings did, or in some cases you can be hired as an apprentice directly by someone who holds a master license and learn on the job which is what my DH did. He had to have so many work hours under his former business partner who held the license. Then he had to take and pass a journeyman test, work so many more hours as a journeyman and then he could take the master test himself. Every couple years he has to take a refresher course on the building codes that apply to his trade to maintain his license. FTR, my DH now makes 3-4 times what he made at his top salary as a manager, a/k/a “using his degree”, so yeah.
As for what the high school here actually does I’m not sure because my kid isn’t there yet, but I’ve read various things that have come through the district that have referenced the need to address various pathways for students so everyone can find something that fits.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 2, 2023 18:18:05 GMT
Just think about how long it takes you to get a experienced qualified plumber or electrician out to your house. Or how many wait months just to get a home repair estimate or any estimate for work on your house or property. They are needed jobs!
With EVs in the market mechanics need more schooling. There will be need for far more electricians to install and maintain all the charging stations.
All kinds of things.
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Post by Linda on Oct 2, 2023 18:27:28 GMT
We have trades/career options in the high school here - 3-4yr year tracks mainly with the opportunity to earn a certificate/certification at the end. My daughter is in her 2nd year of welding. She's enjoying it and it fills elective spots in her otherwise AP course heavy schedule. At least in welding and I suspect in the other tracks as well -the instructor also teaches career/life skills - handshakes, interviewing, how to dress for an interview, how to tie a tie and so on...
other options are agriculture, vet assistant, cooking, digital media, early childhood, health sciences, EMT, Building Trades and Construction, Nursing assistant, criminal justice...there's about 20 options, I think
They do a Careers Day at the local fairgrounds and bring in people from various local employers - the steel plant, plumber, electrician, law enforcement, construction, medical, and so on. The companies typically have a booth/table with information and a hands-on activity related to their trade. There are (small) scholarship opportunities for seniors; lunch and transportation is provided (during the school day) and so on... My daughter had a blast last year - I actually got pictures because the company my dh works for was there and his boss was manning the table and snapped pics for us.
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Oct 3, 2023 18:49:25 GMT
The schools in our district all push college, but particularly the one that we are zoned for, which really stinks. (I mean, it's great for those who are on that path, don't get me wrong! But the all college, all the time mindset is crappy.) No one offered any knowledge about transferring to a different school that may offer things more along the trade line (which we have since found out do exist, albeit not robustly in our district).
We do have "academies" (within the school) that allow you to take electives that are within your area of interest. It's just that the ones emphasized in our district are all the engineering and science and uber-business ones.
DD chose health sciences, and they happened to have a guest speaker in her class in 9th grade who talked about a program for high schoolers that lets them try EMS work. She is now in that program and thriving and plans on a career in that specific field. It's geared towards anyone interested in health care, particularly emergency/trauma type, but their ideal is to recruit EMS. She is planning on getting her certification through the community college in the spring, even though she is only a junior, so that she is set to apply/enter the EMS academy upon graduation.
While we were over at the CC, we discovered they had a ton of certification programs ranging from HVAC and utility type to firefighting to jewelry work. But this has never been mentioned when she meets with the counselor at school, who keeps insisting she makes a list of colleges and so forth. Like, I understand maybe freshman year and keeping your options open - but at this point, DD is 17, has literally saved people's lives in the back of an ambulance already, in graphic situations, and has loved doing it. There is a viable career path, she is great at it, it is a necessary contribution to society, and she loves it. Why do they keep trying to shove 4-year college down her throat?
And DH and I both have 4-year degrees from a highly respected university, it's not like we don't value college. But it's not the right thing for everyone, especially at age 18.
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Oct 3, 2023 19:34:12 GMT
Just think about how long it takes you to get a experienced qualified plumber or electrician out to your house. Or how many wait months just to get a home repair estimate or any estimate for work on your house or property. They are needed jobs! With EVs in the market mechanics need more schooling. There will be need for far more electricians to install and maintain all the charging stations. All kinds of things. And how much you pay them when they get there! |
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Post by auntkelly on Oct 3, 2023 22:39:38 GMT
I’d probably start out your project by finding out if there are any counselors at your kids’ high school who are particularly supportive of kids who want to learn a trade. If there is such a person, you might have that person come speak to the PTA.
If there is no one who is particularly helpful, I’d go straight to the Vo Tech school and ask them to send a rep to address the PTA.
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teddyw
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Post by teddyw on Oct 3, 2023 22:50:26 GMT
My brother is a union president and would kill for that opportunity.
He says he’d approach kids at the mall if he was t afraid of having the police called on him because someone might think he’s trying to abduct someone. They’re that desperate for candidates.
I used to be the sub nurse at a vocational high school and they even had film production and animation programs. They also offered classes at night for adults.
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sweetpeasmom
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Oct 3, 2023 23:25:11 GMT
I'm in GA. My kids were very fortunate that their high school had pathways they could choose to do as electives and get a taste of other options besides just the college prep pathway. We now have a college and career academy that opened my DD's senior year. Even more options were added (and continue be added). There are options such as phlebotomy, pharmacy tech, assembly line, small animal care, etc.
DS took the ag mechanics pathway. In that, he had the opportunity to take some welding, small engine repair and electrical. He kept coming back around to electrical and wanting to be an electrician. DH is a builder and all DS knows is construction. So it was in his wheelhouse. He didn't want to go the 4 year route. We told him that is fine but you need to do something. So we looked at the local community/tech school. When we toured it, we were told the average age of the blue collar trades is 55 and there aren't enough younger ones coming up behind them. They also have a 100% job placement rate for graduates. DS graduated c/o 2020. DH was able to get him connected with the co that does all of his electrical work. DS went to work there full time and went to school in the evenings. By taking this path, he added 6 months to his time required to be able to sit for his licensing test. He really loves his job. He works hard and at age 21, he's a lot further in his career than some of the 50 year olds in his field.
DD started on 2 pathways her freshman year. She started in the ag mechanics and did 1 year of small animal care. She entertained the idea of becoming a vet. She also took intro to drafting and design. The follow up was architecture classes or engineering classes. She chose architecture. She fell in love with it. Her teacher came to her her junior year and offered her a spot in her apprenticeship class. She worked with a retired architect on a local project here in town. Her senior year she was a teachers aid for her. She is now in her 2nd year of school for architecture.
By offering other options to kids that aren't necessarily traditional school bound, they can find their passion. My high school had a vocational school where they offered cosmetology, auto mechanics, drafting, etc. I knew girls that when they graduated, they were graduating with their cosmetology license.
Talk to someone from the local tech/trade school. Have them come and give stats similar to what my son heard. Show the advantages of going that route.
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leeny
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Post by leeny on Oct 4, 2023 0:03:41 GMT
We have several non-profits in our area here in NorCal that have programs that train in the trades. We also have a wonderful "chapter" of the California Conservation Corps in our county. My dd went from high school to a local business school to learn travel and tourism. Helped her get jobs in that industry since they live in a highly touristy area. Sounds like you need a career day for trades! On a side note my son-in-law is now an elevator mechanic. His cousin got him into the program through their union I believe and had has had all of the training on the job and courses through the union. Edited to say: Thank you for bringing up trades in your high school. It is crazy how so many schools think University/College is the only way to go and look where that has got people. |
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Post by librarylady on Oct 4, 2023 2:10:31 GMT
Our school district made the original high school a school that specializes in trade skills. The other 2 high schools offer college preparation classes. I think it is going well. I think we have had this about 4 years.
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