The U.S. Needs More Apprenticeship
A nationwide shortage of trade workers had led many businesses and politicians to support more trade education and apprenticeship programs. I addressed this in a previous blog. What is meant by apprenticeship? The term is loosely used to describe a variety of on-the-job training (OJT) programs, but true apprenticeship involves a more formal structure of […]
Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric Visits Local Elementary Students
At Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric in Fayetteville, NC, the team had an extraordinary day with local elementary students! Along with a showcase of cool tools, the students received awesome coloring books and a visit from Coolidge. It’s never too early to “explore the trades”!
Why Are Today’s College Graduates So Stupid?
I had a grandfather who never made it past third grade. But he read a newspaper every day and could carry on intelligent conversation about current events. He wrote me letters when I was serving in the U.S. Army. He didn’t know any fancy words and expressed himself in simple language, but most of his […]
Student Loans Become Ever More Burdensome
It’s been widely reported that federal student loan debt now totals a staggering $1.5 trillion, give or take a few billion. It’s hard to wrap your head around numbers that large, but within that big amount lay some disturbing trends that spell bad news for the U.S. economy as a whole, and especially for the […]
Why Does College Cost So Much?
In my last blog I addressed the phenomenal growth of people attending college. In 1940 only around 5% of Americans held a college degree. Now, the figure is over 35%, and around two-thirds of Americans have attended college at some point. Along the way has come an even more dramatic increase in the cost of […]
Why Do So Many People Go To College?
Many social pressures compel people to go to college whether they want to or not, whether they can afford to or not. This wasn’t always the case. Prior to World War II, less than 5% of American adults held a college degree. Only jobs at the highest professional levels required one. A big change occurred […]
The Parent Trap
In my last blog I pointed out the decline of home ownership in America, caused in part by enormous levels of student debt that are preventing people from saving enough to afford a home, or ruining their credit because they aren’t making student loan payments. Another trend is taking place that’s even sadder. A study by […]
Will You Ever Own A Home?
Home ownership long has been thought of as the height of the American dream. In generations gone by many people worked for many years to save up enough money for a home down payment, and the day they moved in was one of the happiest of their lives. That’s become harder and harder. According to […]
Tools Of The Trade
An experienced eye can spot a master craft worker from a run-of-the-mill mechanic by one simple observation. Pay attention to the quality and condition of his tools. A master craft worker treasures his tools as much as a musician does his instrument or an artist his paints and brushes. As with anything else, you’ll get […]
The Free College Illusion
In the years I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve studiously avoided getting political. Unlike so many others in our hyper-partisan times, I respect everyone’s right to their opinions and am proud to say I have close friends across the political spectrum, ranging from Sandernistas on the left to die-hard Trumpians. I don’t want to use […]