How do you feel about your teen going to trade school?
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Anonymous
| I’m an engineer who spent many years working closely with carpenters, iron workers, welders, electricians and laborers on construction sites and in a mill. For my own kid I’d steer them towards carpentry or electrical. They’re all physically demanding but are not guaranteed to wreck your body. Laborer is most likely to get worn out by 40…I’m no expert this is just my observation. They teach you how to lift etc but still it really depends the types of jobs you’ll be on if you’re crouched down for long periods etc. Welding in confined spaces especially looks like one of the very toughest jobs. And hot. They wear heavy protective gloves and jackets. I think that’s why it pays so much. |
Anonymous
That’s too bad. He shouldn’t have struggled like that with a steady job. But that definitely is not the norm. |
Anonymous
| I would encourage and pay for at least an associate degree in addition to a trade diploma. |
Anonymous
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We know two young women who are now welders. At least one did a 4 year degree, and both are happy and making good money. Both also trying to recruit more women.
It’s funny, my bias is that I want more women to attend trade school because I’d much rather hire a woman electrician or plumber or mechanic than a man. I think there would be a huge market for this, at least among women who control family purchasing power. My brother is in HVAC, so I know it’s physically taxing and once you hit mid-40s you’re in decline. |
Anonymous
The electrician in my family retired by 60 because his skills allowed him to buy and renovate multiple investment properties. He now spends his time boating (including building his own) and splits his time between a northern beach in summer and a southern one in winter. So yes, I’d support trades. |
Anonymous
This. I would have mixed feelings and concerns about their long-term future. If they were interested in a trade I would push them to also learn about business so they can setup their own company (related to the trade they learned) and put in place a way to make income if/when they physically can't do the job anymore. Owning your own trade-based business can be a great way to financial success. |
Anonymous
I mean i think it is like any job. Some people have successful careers, and some don't. There are a lot of states that are right to work states though, so that is something to consider. I have zero problem with my kid going into trades as long as they make sure to prepare adequately for the future possibility of a high risk of injury. |
Anonymous
What's interesting to me from this comment- I come from a family of many different kinds of physicians, down to the 5th generation of physicians on my dad's side, also a bunch of academics and lawyers, business ppl is that doctors are the sort of kids who would thrive in trade school- they work with ppl, they are service providers, and most importantly, they have to know how to work with their hands. My dad always said the difference between him (general surgeon) and a mechanic was the body that they worked on. From where I am sitting, this is mostly a class thing and as blue collar workers increasingly were squeezed out of building a good middl class life for themselves, they encouraged their kids to "class jump" to white collar work- since this has caused a huge shortage 2-3 decades later, its a great thing for kids to be able to have that choice but lets not pretend its not class based and you have to be "smarter" kid to be a doctor, it just has more snob appeal. Medicine is a trade, it's just "respectable" to use 19th century parlance. some people arent cut out to do trade work- my husband is a brilliant litigator and routinely drops and breaks things, cant even manage to hammer a nail into plaster without it crumbling, and im not much better- I love to knit but im bad at it. Some ppl dont have the dexterity to fix and build things. |
Anonymous
| If that's what my kid wanted to do, I'd be thrilled. And as far as worries about retirement, many work into less physical positions and trade unions have great benefits. |
Anonymous
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For every powerful lawyer billing $1500 an hour or world class surgeon there are tens of thousands with mountains of debt living to work long hours to make their monthly nut and pay back their debt. Not every family has the hundreds of thousands to pay for school.
My vet had to live in his clinic for two years after losing his house in 2008 because his debt load was so high and his mortgage rates readjusted and having also just built a new state of the art clinic. People who talk about their old plumbers and electricians being in physical decline also don’t realize the state of many work places as well as unions provide excellent benefits and savings plans as well as business education and acumen. I’d rather who do something she loves where you never feel like you work a day in your life that be saddled with debt. She could get in a car wreck driving to her 40 hour a week job and be paralyzed for life. Life has risks and for some the reward is far greater for them. |
Anonymous
| I would be happy myself. I don't think my kid will do well sitting at a desk in front of a computer. She needs activity. |
Anonymous
| Totally depends on the kid the same as it would for any other profession. I would say I’d prefer if they had some level of understanding the business aspects of it with the hopes they would start their own business but on a fundamental level there is nothing wrong with it at all. |
Anonymous
You just want to be judgmental. You don't need me to explain. |
Anonymous
I have a desk job but often conduct meetings while walking. Also have a sit/stand desk that faces a body of water. Keep in mind that your kid at whatever age she is now, may not be the adult she turns into. I was very high energy as a kid, bouncing off the walls, never stopped talking or moving. I do great at a desk job. |
Anonymous
| What are you looking for, Op? Why the question? I would hope mine would go to college. Do anything they want, after getting a college degree. You don't feel this way. |