At the very least, a cartoon that Gov. Paul LePage recently sent to high school principals throughout the state got people talking about the perceptions people have of career and technical degrees versus those obtained at liberal arts colleges.
The cartoon depicts a college student, who is heading to a four-year college, as thinking his counterpart attending a trade school is a “loser.”
But it would be best for Maine to move on. Rehashing perceived conflicts or competition between vocational education and college preparation classes creates an unnecessary distraction for lawmakers and educators at a time when their clear focus should be promoting career development for all Maine students.
The state needs welders. Maine also needs people who can put their liberal arts degrees to good use in the workforce.
Students who show an interest in such trades as plumbing, welding and carpentry should be encouraged and supported to pursue those career paths, free of value judgments based on outdated stereotypes or classism. The same holds true for those who believe a liberal arts education would best prepare them to meet their life’s goals.
In both cases, educators and those entrusted to guide students’ career choices can inform those decisions by ensuring that they realistically align with Maine’s future employment needs and how one’s level of education affects lifetime earnings potential.
A November 2011 Maine Department of Labor Center for Workforce Research and Information market review of the state’s occupational outlook from 2008 to 2018 projects that 21 of the 40 fastest growing occupations in Maine will be health-related.
“Education and health services is expected to account for more than two-thirds of the net increase in wage and salary jobs,” the report states. Though many older workers will create openings when they retire, “the manufacturing sector is expected to continue to lose jobs.”
In other words, training more welders and machinists won’t increase the demand for welders or reverse a 30-year downward trend in the number of manufacturing jobs in Maine. For that reason, young people interested in manufacturing jobs must be aware of that reality.
It also means that career and technical school curriculums and budgets must evolve to address the economic reality that jobs in such fields as “health care support; business and financial operations; computers and mathematics; life, physical and social science; protective service; and personal services are expected to grow at more than twice the rate for all occupations,” according to the analysis.
Another Maine Department of Labor report indicates that adapting the way Maine schools teach skills related to manufacturing — to reflect technological advancements and integrate more elements of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education into the curriculum — would serve the dual purpose of filling employers’ unmet needs and promoting job stability for employees.
“A successful future for manufacturing will depend, in part, on how well we bridge the divide between the talent employers need and job seekers offer,” according to the Maine Department of Labor Workforce Review released Aug. 31.
Career and technical education programs, offered to high school and community college students, represent key building blocks for that bridge. The data released in August also detail which industries within the manufacturing sector are growing. That information provides educators with direction on where to focus programming.
By emphasizing STEM training, working to align career and technical school schedules with those of partner high schools and encouraging exploration of initiatives such as the Many Flags/One Campus concept, the LePage administration has advocated strongly for the role of career education in Maine.
The next step is to set aside old stereotypes and ensure that all Maine students have access to the important information they need to plan their futures.
Good points. However, sadly Paul LePage is genetically incapable of setting aside old stereotypes. He needs professional help or a lifetime pass to watch the film “Bully” over and over.
Oh grow up already…The 5th grade name calling is getting old….
However I do agree those kinds of jobs are not needed or wanted here in Maine…Can I get me another heaping helping of quality of place ???
We create words in order that others will know what we are talking about. When a car is painted black we say, “Watch out for that black car.” In other words when something fits a specified description of a word, we use that word. “Bully” is not name calling when the person being referred to as a bully in fact meets the definition of the word. LePage has threatened and bullied his entire reign. Tom Brady is a quarterback, Derek Jeter is a shortstop, and LePage is a bully. See how that whole word fitting the definition thing works?
Grow Up.
I know of a UTC HS tech student age 17 that has the promise of a $40k job upon graduation. The job is waiting for his HS graduation. Not enough plumbers.
I tell every kid who will listen to take up a trade, even if it means going to a tech school. Academia is cattle shooting every high school graduate towards four year colleges, even if it means a mountain of debt. They have a complete disregard for the fact that we will still need welders, plumbers, carpenters, and mechanics. With most of the tradesmen and craftsmen pushing the retirement age, a great void is on the horizon. A couple of smart moves now will ensure a lifetime of earning a living wage and never having to stand in line for a job that just isn’t there.
Everyone should have at least one trade as a back up, even doctors and lawyers.
Reminds me of the three Surgeons sitting in a lounge discussing business.
The first Doctor expounded on the fact that Mechanics make the best patients!
” They don’t care if there are parts left over!” –Was his Claim.
The Second Doctor disagreed and declared that Electricians make the best Patients.
“They are Color Coded , and they have Schematics “–Was His Claim!
The third Doctor declared that ” Politicians ” make the best patients!
After all,
“They have NO Spine, No Guts, and their Head and their Arse are interchangeable in a pinch!”
Great Idea on the backup plan. Only the very few work their entire career in the field of their choice. Also, some lifeskills should be mandatory at some educational level.
Sorry, but lifeskills are learned by actually DOING something with your life, not learning about it in a classroom. And that isn’t a pot-shot at you, it’s a pot-shot at all the lazy people out there.
Some things like how to write a resume, how to fill out an application for work, how to do basic things like manage a budget, how write a check or money order, etc., should be integrated into the classroom at an earlier age, like say, starting in Jr. High. This is so kids get into the mentality that they are going to be on their own one day, instead of having them reliant on welfare programs, or trying to cheat the system by going to college for the rest of their life and living off of student aid.
But this also falls on PARENTS who don’t take the time to teach their kids anything, including things like discipline and respect.
Agreed. The technical High school in Bangor is a great opportunity. Not all people are geared to get Gender Studies degrees have $50-100k of student debt and look for job opportunities at Books-A-Million.
The only jobs you will find at Books-A-Million are pretend jobs. You know, assistant director of marketing analysis or liaison to the assistant manager of human resources. Something where an eight year degree in basket weaving is compulsory. Great choices if you are scared of actual work.
My comment had my tongue firmly planted in my cheek.
Problem is that a lot of students dont do their research on what field to go in to a lot of times, they pick a field that is useless like a liberal arts degree…
There is nothing wrong in studying what you enjoy, but you should be able to make a living off it if you are going to cough up a lot of money to do it.
When you ask a kid right out of high school to pick a course of study in college, you are basically asking them what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It is a huge financial investment and not to be taken lightly. BTW, my daughter has a liberal arts degree from UMO and earns 60k a year, right in Bangor.
Im just talking smack about a liberal arts degree, I know if Im the one paying for my kids education I will have a big say into what field she picks..
Having two beautiful daughters and being a survivor of their teenage years, I wish you all the luck with that! lol.
Sending cartoons to principles – now that’s some leadership there…
It’s literally all he has. Scrawling on a cartoon with a crayon. Then mailing it to learned men and women and being completely mystified as to why no one takes him seriously. I am afraid we ushered in a dim wit simply because he promised to cut taxes and kick the bums off welfare. I would like to think that we won’t get fooled again, but history says otherwise.
“mystified as to why no one takes him seriously. ” Please don’t speak for “everyone”. I for one take the Governor seriously and should he run again, I will vote for him again.
I never used the word “everyone” in my comment. But, if it works for you, feel free to embellish. Your assertion that you would vote for him again only serves to prove my theory that history will repeat itself.
I was able to see the goveners point. Seems valid to me.
Ask those educators who objected who is going to fix their car or furnace. I rarely agree with Governor LePage, on this I agree.
A classic example of mistaking the problem for the solution. At some point, somebody has to actually make something to bring in the money all those other jobs just move around.
Love the cartoon, keep up the great work Mr. LePage…..
Wouldn’t it be more productive to insure that 100% of our graduates are capable of learning more in whatever path they choose to follow? Governor LePage is correct that there are people that are never going to be engineers, scientists, lawyers, doctors, writers, etc. There are plenty who are natural carpenters, plumbers, mechanics, etc. In todays evolving world those trades people need to be capable of reading and comprehending all the latest information available to keep up with the times.