Shrek...that sounds like a great idea. And let's hope those schools and students realize that good technical training includes the ability to read directions, do basic math such as fractions, etc and encourages a discipline in students for developing good work habits.

Many of the local school districts are already participating in a program that does exactly what this writer is talking about. It is called the Stateline Career and Technical Education Association. Businesses and schools are providing an alternate track for kids that want to get into fields that require training other than the traditional four year college.

@walter- I so agree with you. Manufactures want trained temporary employees, complain about their reading and math abilities , make everyone think they are " doing good things for people" then want the general population to think that all workers are untrained and useless. I say, employers- train your own workers. Quit making the taxpayer pay for it?

vatoloco said
"Posted on May 21 at 9:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Sweetie, if you haven't heard my story, I'm a product of migrant workers who worked in the hot fields of West sandy Texas....you insult me when you say I don't know what hard work...I used to help my parents load heavy watermelons on a moving trailer attached to a tractor....."

So if your parents came here from mexico to work the fields where are your papers? Your parents were illegals, how could you have so much to say about our government when your parents should have been deported? Romney will take care of people like you, he wants illegals sent back to where they came from, I think I will vote for him for just that reason!

Manufacturers that are hiring are willing to wait for the perfect candidate. Demand is still very low, and hiring new employees is ALWAYS a last resort. What manufacturers want when hiring a welder, for example, is someone very skilled and with lots of experience who is in desperate need of a job and willing to work for less than market value. They're not likely to find that candidate for a long time, but they're more than willing to wait. If demand increases, they may have to hire someone that demands more money and/or has less experience, but for now, why would they? IF you go to North Dakota, the whole landscape is different. There's such a demand for all types of skilled labor that even people with little experience are making money hand over fist. At the same time, landlords are renting rooms (not apartments, rooms) for $1200 per month. Some small apartments are renting for upwards of $3,000 per month. The price has gone up drastically on all items, basic or otherwise. All that money goes fast. Everything equals out. You're still likely to be left with just as much as when you started, but, hey, at least you're working, right?

I guess my question is still, who trains the welders? High School may introduce welding in a tech ed class but the training should go on post graduate or on the job. Employers should do the on the job training. I don't think it's a function of our educational system, at least on the High School level.

motor...easy to research but if you want me to do it for you okay! Just google "Milwaukee manufacturing companies need welders". I found pages of help wanted ads, wages (on those ads that noted wages) from $22 to $24 dollars an hour plus benefits. Companies included Super Steel, LLC, P&H Mining, Caterpillar, plus many more.

gray... I don't think companies are offering $10 an hour to trained and skilled applicants. Palermo Pizza in Milw paid an unskilled woman working there over $14 an hour according to a JS article. So I would think trained electricians, etc would be making almost $20 an hour. One company featured in the JS a while back was begging for welders and paying good money.

I understand. But AP classes don't have to be just for kids going to a 2 or 4 year school - they can be taken because a student is up for the challenge of advanced coursework and wants to learn more.

vato - that's why we have AP classes. College level classes with college credit for those 11th and 12th graders that can handle them.

maybe if these manufacters would offer better wages and benefits, they would not have any problems finding skilled workers.they want you to be skilled as welder, electricain, forklift operation, and whatever else for 10.00 an hour. insurance is available for x number a dollars a week. now by the time you pay for gas, to get to work, pack a lunch, that would be about 2.00 an hour. now you can try to survive on whats left over. now why would anyone want to get a manufacting job? but check out the CEOs paycheck,he laughing all the way to the bank!

I agree Donnaw with your statement and it seems schools are recognizing that now. I do know of some people who lacked the ability to read, some who couldn't do math who were able to join the work force in some other capacity and learned their trades on the job. I had a carpenter who built an addition for me who was dyslexic yet he was fabulous with his hands.

analert....when you were growing up most kids graduated from high school with basice reading and math skills. Now kids are applying for jobs, especially in manufacturing, and what the employers are telling us is that many of these kids can't do basic math such as fractions. In many instances our schools are passing kids thru even they aren't performing. Have you seen a young person trying to count change even tho the amount is posted on the register?

When did we come to the point that schools were job training grounds? Growing up I always assumed that school was for education and then we either went on to college or got a job. If we chose the workforce, the employer trained us and invested in our learning on the job. Now employers want to hire already trained "temps", don't want to give them a living wage, and have no investment in the success of the employee. Maybe that is the problem. Okay Mr. Employer, put your money where your mouth is. You get all the tax advantages, we don't.

vato, what do you consider non-essential? Most schools require English, Math, Social Studies and Science with maybe a credit of computers and phy ed/health. I think all of those are subjects a student should have a basic foundation in. Most of their other credits are electives, which are subjects the students CHOOSE to take.

This article brought to you by WMC.

Again, how many times have you read a sob story about a college graduate who can't find a job in their chosen major (music, fine arts, communications, journalism, history, to name a few "soft" majors)? Hellooooo! And you want to say, "What made you think you would easily find a job with that major?" This article hits the nail on the head about high school students and their parents about finding out what type of jobs are really out there. Not everyone should or will go to college. Where have the tech schools been as far as reaching out to students and businesses in the past? Is this a new approach?