I’ll make this short and to the point:
With so many colleges charging anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 per year, even more…
…and disgorging students highly proficient in political causes and where the good parties are, but all too often deficient in what will prepare them to be productive for the rest of their lives…
…why aren’t we developing and encouraging two-year White Collar Trade Schools (WCTS)?
Think of it: two years of high quality, intensive training in fields such as business, management, pharmacy, marketing, advertising, etc. – not just a few courses but serious, career-oriented instruction – including, I envision, significant on-site experience with participating companies in each of these areas.
The payoff for students is serious knowledge and experience in a valued profession they can make a career of, at a cost dramatically lower than just about any quality four year college – and two more years of their lives to be productive.
The payoff for companies is young, motivated employees who have knowledge of both the profession itself and how companies in that profession function day-to-day.
Yes, there are two year colleges and two year trade schools in existence right now. But how many of them are there in total, and how many of them specialize in this this kind of learning? Not many.
It seems to me this fills an important void.
What do you think?
I think if you have the phrase “White Collar” attached to it you will have hell to pay from the SJW’s. Also how will the teachers unions make money from it?
Sounds like a battle that can’t be won in the America we live in today.
free- As anyone who ever taught me in school would ruefully tell you, I’m no expert in the area of education. So I don’t how it would be implemented. My only point is that it makes loads of sense. As for the SJW, if they don’t like it they can GFT.
I know someone who teaches at a 2 year community college in California. Five classes a day, no requirement to do (arcane and totally meaningless) research, no 1 year sabbaticals (with pay). Highly motivated students (who most often are older and hold jobs). Faculty is judged solely on their ability to teach.
Zeke – I hear (well, read) you perfectly. Unfortunately, the term “Community College”, whether fairly or unfairly, has something of a stigma to it. White Collar Trade School would not.
Ken –
In her community college, (and others, apparently), the incentive is to take the first two years there — much cheaper than going freshman and sophomore years at a 4 yr school. Every graduate of a CA community college is guaranteed, a place in a 4 year college (if requested). Of course, there IS a difference between Berkeley and San Jose State College. But, a lot of people do the 2 + 2 dance, for financial reasons. And probably get a better education for the first half.
When I was in the 8th grade I was in an alternative program at the junior high school I went to.
We didn’t change classrooms, it all took place in a single room, in fact it was even a separate building from the other students. We were given our assignments and when we finished we were given the next one, no waiting until the next day or week, as soon as we finished handed another. I got in trouble half way through the school year and was expelled. The vice principal said we’ll be seeing you next year.
I will never forget the look on the VP’s face when the teacher told him that I had already completed more than was required to pass the grade level. So I agree with you Ken, when barriers are removed and the people who want to learn are not held back, it can be done quicker and more efficiently. I’m proof of that.