High school level trade schools

[ehsx]

Taught hs hvac and adult night classes one year. One class I brought bread & peanut butter in because they would spend their lunch money on pot and come to class with the munchies. Some had nearly 100 tardies for the year, office would just sign them in and send to class. Other class spent every other day in an alternative elective, Making it hard to cover base materials.

Principal wanted mostly shop activities to keep the students entertained. He did not understand safety liabilities. I had no shop activities for the first six weeks.

I was pleasantly surprised at the willingness of local business and industry to help out. Failed compressors for teardown diagnostics, cu pipe & fittings, tools, etc….every place I contacted was willing to help in some manner.

[tmst]

As someone who discovered my mechanical calling late in life, I really missed having a good-hearted guidance counselor pointing at my aptitude test scores and saying, "Do this." Instead I wandered through my 20's trying this and that and getting into trouble. If we as a society wanted to get serious, then HS students would be directed into occupations where they stand the best chance of becoming useful. I'd love to get into one of those offices and save a few lives just for the good karma.

[R600a]

As someone who discovered my mechanical calling late in life, I really missed having a good-hearted guidance counselor pointing at my aptitude test scores and saying, "Do this." Instead I wandered through my 20's trying this and that and getting into trouble. If we as a society wanted to get serious, then HS students would be directed into occupations where they stand the best chance of becoming useful. I'd love to get into one of those offices and save a few lives just for the good karma.

As someone who didn't have good enough grades in high school to get into any classes like that I think the whole education system essentially needs scrapped and rebuilt from the ground up.

[tmst]

And that was probably the best $1000 the government gave away.

Best ever! This is some big government that I could get behind.

[tmst]

As someone who didn't have good enough grades in high school to get into any classes like that I think the whole education system essentially needs scrapped and rebuilt from the ground up.

I've thought a lot about this. I think an essential element of anything workable involves students taking responsibility for one another's academic progress. They need to be paired up and held accountable to each other as a group. This fosters socialization, responsibility and so much other goodness.

[hvacvegas]

I’ve had hires from fortis and local high school/adult Ed class.

The ones that are 100% private corp, I’d rather take a kid from a jiffy lube. None of them had seen a real ac before, it was all computer generated. Fortis is this setup. All about money.


A local one public funded here is oaks
They run high school kids during the day, adult classes at night.
Most of their money comes from school tuition from the state as a vocational school.
The night classes are for additional funding to help keep the place nice.
Generally, they actually care.

[R600a]

I've thought a lot about this. I think an essential element of anything workable involves students taking responsibility for one another's academic progress. They need to be paired up and held accountable to each other as a group. This fosters socialization, responsibility and so much other goodness.

And not eating every kid into the same educational mode with a 10-pound sledgehammer. I quit doing all homework and class work when I got answers marked wrong because I didn't do it their way I said to hell with that. Oh yeah and when I switch schools in fifth grade and my new school was doing the exact same curriculum the exact same books as I had done in fourth grade and they wouldn't let me skip to 6th grade so I I got really used to not doing anything that year because it was so stupid doing it all over again I mean I remembered the answers from the previous year.

[tmst]

...
It was all computer generated. Fortis is this setup. All about money.
...

Maybe any serious student would quickly leave such a profit-oriented program. Better to study in peace on one's own than put up with that crap.

[BBeerme]

When I went to UTI in Phoenix, AZ, the first half of the day was classroom, the second half hands on with the equipment. For nine months. That's how you run a tech school.

[tmst]

When I went to UTI in Phoenix, AZ, the first half of the day was classroom, the second half hands on with the equipment. For nine months. That's how you run a tech school.

Wow. This is probably now totally unheard-of. One might validly gauge the health of a technically-based society such as this one on that fact alone, IMO. The middle class can no longer afford to perpetuate its own survival.

I attended a community college recently in order to study HVAC. The school recently built a brand new $5 million HVAC training facility and managed to find a decent department head. But I think he's stuck teaching every class from mechanical on, now, and half the courses in the catalog go untaught.

[BBeerme]

Here'e my binder of notes from that trade school, probably carried it with me at work for the first 2-3 years. I still cherish that binder. Second is a shot of opening to a random page. It was the best school in America, which is why I chose that one, then NASCAR bought them out and discontinued the HVACR program.

[BBeerme]

Ah, the ol' sidewys photo. But just try and find a trade school out there today teaching that type of detail.

[TechmanTerry]

In HS I never knew what I wanted, I did not get along in Wood Working Class or even in the "Build Your Own Radio Class". The only thing that I did know was that I wanted to do was to join the the US NAVY and I signed up for the Military at 17. Then while in Chicago I saw a WWII German Submarine at a museum and I fell in love with all those valves,pipes,wires,gauges,hatches,etc,etc. Then while serving on a US Sub, I stumbled into the "A" Gang and I fell in love(again) w/ ACR and ever since then I have been to a few hundred HVACR Classes/Schools. I stumbled in the right direction, luckily and happily.

[ehsx]

In HS I never knew what I wanted, I did not get along in Wood Working Class or even in the "Build Your Own Radio Class". The only thing that I did know was that I wanted to do was to join the the US NAVY and I signed up for the Military at 17. Then while in Chicago I saw a WWII German Submarine at a museum and I fell in love with all those valves,pipes,wires,gauges,hatches,etc,etc. Then while serving on a US Sub, I stumbled into the "A" Gang and I fell in love(again) w/ ACR and ever since then I have been to a few hundred HVACR Classes/Schools. I stumbled in the right direction, luckily and happily.

What port & boat?

[TechmanTerry]

[QUOTE=ehsx;26252510]What port & boat?[/QUO

Groton,Ct. SS-346, USS Corporal, EN2(SS),Auxiliary Gang, RPPO(Repair Parts Petty Officer) 68-72'

[tmst]

Here'e my binder of notes from that trade school, probably carried it with me at work for the first 2-3 years.

Nice. There's a guy here in San Diego who was teaching a college HVAC electrical course somewhat along these lines a few years ago, demanding that students draw circuits freehand with correct symbology, etc. I think the pandemic shot that to hell.

I bet the average Chinese HS student can probably do this stuff in his sleep. America watches TV.

[ehsx]

[QUOTE=TechmanTerry;26252535]

What port & boat?[/QUO

Groton,Ct. SS-346, USS Corporal, EN2(SS),Auxiliary Gang, RPPO(Repair Parts Petty Officer) 68-72'

Did a fair amount of work on boats in Charleston, SC. They had fast attacks, frigates, destroyers, & tenders with york marine paks. 1976- 1988.

[tmst]

I'd like to see mandatory military service for all teenagers as in some countries. 2 years in a disciplined environment. Can you imagine the woke and ruling class hysterics?