Fair Haven Alder Champions VoTech In State Of City Address

Are kids or teachers allowed to take their masks off when addressing their class or just politicians?

The trades definitely serve non-college-bound students and those in the trades can make excellent money doing them over their careers (it takes a long time to become an expert and build your book of business) but when you do you are set. Think about it, a significant amount of New England's housing \ infrastructure is very old (75+ years) and it is now failing - that is built-in demand as long as our state becomes more competitive for business. This means work, constant work, as buildings will need demolition, repair, renovation, or new. These jobs are almost impossible to outsource and require special skills that must be taught, apprenticed then hired - a natural progression. Not to mention the federal government's efforts to increase infrastructure spending.

Unfortunately, most trades are considered "dirty jobs" by younger people in the United States who, ON THE WHOLE, are lazier, less motivated, and less educated compared to other large countries we compete with.

The problem is far worse in lower-income communities as many teenagers do not even have elementary school math and reading levels. Kids are pushed through a completely broken government school system that needs to be dismantled with a renewed focus on shaping kids with skills they can use as adults to support themselves, and become independent and useful for society.

Many teenagers are also looking for an "easier way" to make money. They "are raised" by unrealistic music videos, professional sports dreams, social media influencers, technology billionaires, get rich scams, video games, and negative stereotypes promoted by the entertainment industry (drugs kingpins, hitmen, gangs \ criminal enterprises) that should serve as warnings, not examples.

But it is PARENTS, who need to teach their children these important life lessons, preparing their children for adulthood. Isn't the real question we need to ask ourselves is what should society do if parents are no longer parents or are children themselves?

"Conservatives" have been promoting this idea for at least 2 decades. Of course in construction and other building trades measuring might give kids a more appreciation of math. Today's perfect family should have an Electrician, Plumber, Mechanic and maybe a Doctor.

We want to get our youth ready for the real world,” he said. Trade education gives students who are not college-bound an opportunity ​“to soar, to grow, to be able to support a family. Who knows, maybe they can start their own business and employ residents to help this great city of New Haven.”

But here is the other side.
Cons of Trade School
Limited Career Growth

Although trade school jobs can pay well, workers may face limited options for career growth. Managerial or supervisory jobs often require a college degree, so advancing in a trade career can prove to be difficult.

Also, because trade school prepares students for a specific occupation, it can limit a worker's future job opportunities. Trade school graduates may find it difficult to translate their skills from one industry to another.

On the other hand, a traditional college degree offers students a broader education and helps them develop transferable skills that can qualify them for many types of careers.
Limited School Options

There are countless four-year universities across the U.S. However, specialized training programs at vocational schools can be hard to find. You may need to relocate to study at a technical school offering the specific program you are interested in.
Class Competition

When groups of trade school students graduate together, they may find it difficult to land jobs or apprenticeships in their area. Too many graduates in the same field can saturate the local market and cause high competition for entry-level jobs.

Our young people need to take High-Paying Civil Service Jobs.Ihave a friend of mine started in 1970 working for the MTA.He just retired in 2020.His pension is 220,000 a year after taxes.He has Health Care and when he passes away.His wife will get his pension and health care.

Thank you Alderman Santiago for recognizing the need for an alternative path for our students to be successful. I taught in the New Haven school system at the Sound School for over 30 years and am quite familiar with students who benefit from hands on learning and the Votech alternative. Currently I am the President of the New Haven Scholarship Fund which provides financial resources for our New Haven graduating seniors who choose to attend colleges and universities throughout the country, but we are also very proud of the fact that we also support students who choose to attend technical and trade schools/programs. I am quite sure that you know New Haven students can choose to attend Eli Whitney which has 11 technology programs covering careers ranging from graphics and cosmetology to automotive and manufacturing. Maybe more emphasis in the middles schools about Eli Whitney and it's programs would help satisfy the need for technology programs in the short term.

Offering trade and vocational pre-apprenticeships and training in high schools IN ADDITION to regular academics classes, sports and the arts is a great idea.
We also should have a strong post-high school trades and vocational 2 years or less program for certification/degrees and with apprenticeships with employers that graduates students with experience under their belt, and more likely to be hired.
Our State and our Country need skilled building trades, manufacturing, and other infrastructure, repair, technical and industrial jobs trained employees, and we are going to need more nurses, nurses aids, other medical technicians and support staff as our country’s population ages and to make up for the loss of employees during the pandemic.
With Baby Boomers retiring and aging, there are a lot of jobs that will be going begging for qualified employees.
Trade/vocational jobs are also in the hospitality industry, beauty industry, health industry, early childhood education/care, elder care and disabled care, and other career fields that either do not or should not require a four year liberal arts degree, but instead should be programs dedicated to the educating and training in career field skill set and hands on experience in the field of the student’s choice.
High school students should be exposed to a variety of these career fields so they can make an informed choice about which career is best for them. From age 16 (the current legal high school drop out age in CT,) students should not be allowed to drop out of high school, but instead should be able to choose to focus on a trade school education instead of an academic program leading to a 4 year or more academic college degree.
Often a student who struggles in academics can excel in a trade or vocation and gain maturity and confidence in a more hands on practical skills training program, while earning a skill set that they can use to support themselves and then maybe continuing to college at a later date.

Worth noting that Gateway offers over 40 certificate programs, most 1-2 years, and many involve preparation for the trades, as well as things I have never heard of like the Interdisciplinary Peace, Conflict & Collaboration certificate.

https://gatewayct.edu/Programs

Gateway is tuition free for many students.

Even with a trade, a student needs to read, write, and do simple math. And the NHPS is failing at all 3.

Why reinvent the wheel. Eli Whiney VoTech is open to New Haven students and has been for decades. Funded by state tax dollars, no strain on the city budget