Shop Classes were a \"Big Part\" of our Community HS.
Drafting, Auto/diesel Mech., welding, sheet metal work, Wood working.
The 1st year you had to take a \"4 part shop class on introduction\" to shop which covered each one and you had to get atleast a \"75% avg in the areas you wanted to do later.
Now the local HS here have cut out Wood Working, Welding due too \"Insurance reasons\"
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If a Kid wants to learn that skill they have to go to the County career Center which the local Unions help run.
Auto Mechanics is a \"Joke\" at the school you only get to touch the Schools \"Mock-up\", while we could bring our cars in and do whatever we needed to do plus we did all the Maintance on Drivers Ed cars.
They finally this last year due to the consolidation of School Districts get a Ag program going due to closing the small farming schools.
The Trades use to build a House Every Year using students in each area, you could take HVAC, Electrician, Plumbing , Heavy equipment operation and Mechanics and Framing and Wood Construction.
It was a 3 hour class during the week, but you could sign-up for Weekend and after school class too.I did the weekend classes during the \"Off season\" of farming on top of my during the week Shop classes.
So now theres a \"Big Push\" around here due to \"Shortage of Trade Skills\" and trying to get rid of the \"Illegals\" doing these \"High Paying jobs\".
They have built trade centers for those \"Who aren't going to College \"
Pipe Fitters just started one too due to all the new \"Refineries \" going up in the next 4 years plus the 2 airports they need \"Heavy machines OPERATORS .
These are things that use to be taught in school, but since they stopped its done nothing but hurt everyone and now we play Catch-up!.
I've used alot of that training in the USAF and after I got out so its needed.
I've been after them to start up a JR ROTC program too
Goose