Have we taught all the right things to our students for them to succeed in life?
First, I applaud those who have been instrumental in establishing the trade center in Litchfield. I have scratched my head for years as to why we have not been able to figure out that many students do not wish to attend college as they desire other pursuits in life or feel they may not be capable of doing so or may not be able to afford to do so.
I think most educators in charge, not teachers have had a lot of schooling including college, etc., and they think this is the way it should be. Well, we are supposed to be preparing people to succeed in their lifetime and we should have a system that does that for them and the benefit of a well-balanced society. After all, if we all like to do the same thing, how would the rest of it get done? Maybe that is why each of us was created with different talents.
We have had a shortage of skilled workers for a long time. Many types of skilled workers are usually so busy that many times people have to wait or they cannot even get anyone. What is going to happen when they are all gone? It is a well-known fact that there is a shortage of mechanics, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, painters, machinists, and the list goes on.
I think the FFA (Future Farmers of America) has figured this out. The school dropout rate in this country is horrible. I am sure if many had the opportunity to go to school and also learn the skills to do something that they enjoy, the dropout rate would decrease significantly. They would probably also come to understand that if you get good at something and are willing to work, they will come knocking at your door. Naturally, those wishing to go into business for themselves would need some business classes and all need some general education classes.
Any career should be something you like, so it is enjoyable, worthwhile, and a benefit to the individual and society as a whole. I have been in the real estate and retirement planning business for nearly 50 years now, and I can not think of many individuals who really understand a property tax bill. Why we have them and how they work. I think if they realized that is what pays for many things, we use every day and for people who serve us in many ways, they would feel it is really one of the lowest cost things they have versus paying to get on the road, go to the park, the library, school, law enforcement, etc. Why are we not educating people on how it works?
Yes, it is reverse motivation, as you improve your property, it will cost you more. Let it run down, and it costs you less, but nearly everyone enjoys the same rights. That needs to be fixed with a cap of some kind so individuals are not discouraged from fixing up their property and rewarded for letting it run down.
Assist those who need it. These problems are not irreversible and the trade school in the county is a good start to that problem, so let us build on that and start teaching more of the basics, individuals need to know about and understand, so we can all function in a better way now and into the future.
We can always try to make things better, so let’s put our minds together to consider all options!
