Rising Cry For Vocational Education

I’ve been seeing a rising tide of cries for people to forget about college or university education and instead seek training for trade schools, such as carpentry, construction, welding, etc.

Many of those endorsing this claim to be Progressives. In truth, they tend to be centrist Establishment neoliberals. Ones who oppose universal adult education and want to maintain the status quo.

The time for trade schools is long past. At least for anyone who is realistic.

Millions of jobs over many decades have been mechanized and automated. Auto workers, machinists, print setters, wood working, highway construction among these jobs. Technological advancements have reduced labor jobs. Plastics and synthetics have replaced wooden floors, furniture, cabinets, etc. We are now seeing 3D printed buildings with lab experiments to 3D print skyscrapers utilizing carbon nanotubules by robotic construction machines. Autonomous vehicles are being worked on furiously by multiple competing companies. Once developed, they will eliminate millions of jobs, from low to living wage. Some autonomous vehicles are already being tested on highways at this very moment. How much effort do you think it will take to develop robots to do new welding for major projects? Or oil well drilling? Laying building foundations?

This is the future we are facing right now.

One of the biggest advantages to a college/university education is being taught critical thinking skills. In other words…