[AT] Agricultural Equipment Diagnostic Technicians

[Jim Becker]

"Not clear cut" doesn't mean no positive correlation.

BLS already publishes the data you are asking for.  All you have to do is 
read it.

-----Original Message----- 
From: James Peck
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2019 7:19 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [AT] Agricultural Equipment Diagnostic Technicians

I was in an Economics course in 1970 when the Professor mentioned to the 
class that the relationship between economic success and university program 
completion was not clear cut. Some in the class expressed disbelief.

[James Peck] If we were setting up training programs for our country from 
scratch we might take a census by employer of every job. We might then get a 
definition of all the skills or skill sets a person needs to do each job. 
Compiling all that, we could create a massive list of training needs.

One thing that occurred in the past was the creation of the national skills 
standards board.

My guess is we would end up with a massive lists of training needs and very 
few degree needs.  Training for Ag Mechanics would probably be a gainer.


[Al Jones] Starting my 23rd year in education.  It seems that a lot of 
people have a real disdain for four year degrees, a lot of that seems to be 
political but I won't go down that road.  While I think this is wrong, the 
mindset is slowly, very slowly shifting away from the notion that a four 
year degree is a requirement to be successful, which I think is good. The 
most important thing a person preparing for life after high school needs to 
consider is what their goals and interests are and go from there.  With the 
costs of four year schools now, you have to have a plan and it has to be 
realistic, and it has to have several back-ups if Plan A, B, or C doesn't 
work out.  A psychology or similar degree just doesn't pencil out for most 
people.

All the statistics I have seen in forever point to increased demands for 
skilled tradespeople. There are and will be some real opportunities for 
young people if that is their interest.

I was fortunate in that I knew what I wanted to do.  If it was 1992 again, 
and if I didn't know what I wanted to do, I'd go into the military and let 
the government pay for my education once I had a plan together.

[Jim Becker] I have a BA in Mathematics and I did OK.  At least half the 
things I worked with didn't exist when I was in school.  A good 4 year 
degree helps you be flexible and be prepared for a lifetime of learning.

The half life of a troubleshooting procedure is maybe 5 years.  If you don't 
start using tech school training almost immediately, you'll find the only 
part still applicable is lefty loosey, righty tighty.

[ James Peck] I have an in-law that spent 6 years in the Navy and got sent 
to an A level school and trained as an Electronic Technician. After he got 
out of the Navy he got a BS degree in Mathematics using the Gi bill. After 
graduating from the Math program he was dissatisfied with the jobs being or 
not being offered to him and returned to study Electrical Engineering. 
Probably he could have used his Electronic Technician training to get a 
related job and then use his Math degree to get into an engineering level 
job at that same employer.

People choose academic programs with no idea that they will like the career 
or be good at it. Even worse, they choose programs for which there is NO 
career or is overfilled.

[John Hall] Interesting comments on trades vs 4 year schools. My son just 
began college, Math major. He has book sense way more than most--gifted in 
brains and the desire to learn on a higher level. On the other hand, he 
can't change the oil in his truck without my assistance. I tried very hard 
to teach him the basics of farming and mechanic work, but thats just not how 
his mind works. For folks like that, 4 year degrees are where its at. 
Myself, I didn't have the brains or the desire to go to 4 years of school, 
so I went to community college and have spent the last 30 years in a machine 
shop.

Schooling should match the student, that is my families take on the 
situation.

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