Aug 12·edited Aug 12Liked by Hollis Robbins (@Anecdotal)
Hi, I graduated with a Theater Arts degree from Iowa back in the 1980's, and have worked for over 35 years as a carpenter and residential remodeling contractor. I think my entire college education cost around $12K. I got hired by the husband of one of my classmates and never looked back. I enjoyed the work and if I'm honest I also enjoyed the self-image of what we used to call "the thinking proletariat"- the guy who worked manual labor and read Kerouac or Gary Snyder on his lunch break. It was also easier, I suppose, as a Theater major- we weren't under any illusions about whether we'd be able to make a living at it. And it was a natural transition from building sets to working on houses.
Just so you know where I'm coming from.
One can't just "take a job" as a plumber. Some quick research showed me that to become a journeyman plumber in Utah these days requires training, passing some tests, and 8000 hours of supervised work. During this time, the plumber is working as an apprentice, and I can assure you they're not making the big bucks yet. Don't get me wrong, it's a great vocation, as is HVAC tech or electrician or welder- but these aren't trades you can just "take a job as......" Now, painters and carpenters mostly face low to no barriers to entry, and frankly in my experience the drinking habits of English majors are closer to those of house painters than plumbers, so it might be a better fit....
Seriously though, if you want to explore the possibility of what you're talking about, I'd recommend talking to plumbers rather than deans and professors. See how many wish they'd gotten a humanities degree before starting their career in the trades.
All that said, I'd be all in favor of public universities partnering with community colleges (where most of the trade schools are centered) and offering double majors or whatever. I know you folks in the humanities are in a tough spot, enrollment-wise. I think there was a golden era after WW2 until, say, the early 2000's for liberal arts education, and maybe we're just reverting to the mean.
Last thing: I read an article a while back, maybe in the NYTimes?, discussing barriers to young people going into the trades, and the consensus is that it's the parents. If a kid can get into college, many many parents never suggest or encourage them to consider a skilled trade, maybe for status reasons, who knows, and maybe because its a tough go, esp. after 40.
Much of what universities provide in "first year experience" for first year students is "readiness" and "preparation" that universities didn't have to do 20+ years ago. Higher ed got into the "readiness" business as it opened its doors to more students from varying backgrounds and vastly different high school ecosystems. The difference in readiness between the graduate of a wealthy suburban high school and a rural low funded high school is vast.
State universities are far more affordable than private universities but I agree the costs could be lower, especially if high schools prepared students better.
I loved this essay. When we renovated our townhouse the three skilled carpenters we used were: a former history teacher, a former actuarial, and a former phys ed teacher. They did gorgeous work; the best carpenters we've ever used.
Hi, I graduated with a Theater Arts degree from Iowa back in the 1980's, and have worked for over 35 years as a carpenter and residential remodeling contractor. I think my entire college education cost around $12K. I got hired by the husband of one of my classmates and never looked back. I enjoyed the work and if I'm honest I also enjoyed the self-image of what we used to call "the thinking proletariat"- the guy who worked manual labor and read Kerouac or Gary Snyder on his lunch break. It was also easier, I suppose, as a Theater major- we weren't under any illusions about whether we'd be able to make a living at it. And it was a natural transition from building sets to working on houses.
Just so you know where I'm coming from.
One can't just "take a job" as a plumber. Some quick research showed me that to become a journeyman plumber in Utah these days requires training, passing some tests, and 8000 hours of supervised work. During this time, the plumber is working as an apprentice, and I can assure you they're not making the big bucks yet. Don't get me wrong, it's a great vocation, as is HVAC tech or electrician or welder- but these aren't trades you can just "take a job as......" Now, painters and carpenters mostly face low to no barriers to entry, and frankly in my experience the drinking habits of English majors are closer to those of house painters than plumbers, so it might be a better fit....
Seriously though, if you want to explore the possibility of what you're talking about, I'd recommend talking to plumbers rather than deans and professors. See how many wish they'd gotten a humanities degree before starting their career in the trades.
All that said, I'd be all in favor of public universities partnering with community colleges (where most of the trade schools are centered) and offering double majors or whatever. I know you folks in the humanities are in a tough spot, enrollment-wise. I think there was a golden era after WW2 until, say, the early 2000's for liberal arts education, and maybe we're just reverting to the mean.
Last thing: I read an article a while back, maybe in the NYTimes?, discussing barriers to young people going into the trades, and the consensus is that it's the parents. If a kid can get into college, many many parents never suggest or encourage them to consider a skilled trade, maybe for status reasons, who knows, and maybe because its a tough go, esp. after 40.
Thank you! This is helpful guidance!
I’d also recommend a great book- “Shop Class as Soulcraft” by Matthew Crawford.
We would have toilets designed by Kafka that flush up.
LOL! Well, in defense of English majors (and I was one), Kafka didn’t write in English 😉🙄
Kafka schrieb auf Deutsch.
All of that sounds meaner than I meant it
Sorry, former professor here — but KU (my bro’s Alma mater) is $45K for four years in-state, and that’s only tuition.
Yes most privates are $65K per year but it's all high...
What does high school preparation have to do with it? It’s an unfair business model that is bloated with bureaucracy and waste.
Much of what universities provide in "first year experience" for first year students is "readiness" and "preparation" that universities didn't have to do 20+ years ago. Higher ed got into the "readiness" business as it opened its doors to more students from varying backgrounds and vastly different high school ecosystems. The difference in readiness between the graduate of a wealthy suburban high school and a rural low funded high school is vast.
100% agree
The problem is that tuition is too costly and unjustifiably so.
State universities are far more affordable than private universities but I agree the costs could be lower, especially if high schools prepared students better.
I loved this essay. When we renovated our townhouse the three skilled carpenters we used were: a former history teacher, a former actuarial, and a former phys ed teacher. They did gorgeous work; the best carpenters we've ever used.