Bring back shop class

Originally published September 24, 2023

The last thing a high school administrator wants is for a sophomore to remove their thumb with a table saw in shop class. It is thus easy to understand why shop class offerings have declined in high school. But the health and safety of our students has come at a cost: they can no longer fix things. I rely on app-based services for my to-do list while my dad can fix his broken A/C unit with a toothpick and gum-ball. And I’m not alone, most Millennials are clueless in the physical realm (only 37% of can change a tire according to one poll).

Figure 1: Handy or helpless? Percent of Millennials who can do certain “fix it” tasks

The decline in shop class has mirrored a broader trend in America that has seen the decline in non-4-year college paths. Between 2010-2020, the number of 2-year community college students declined by nearly half, despite growth in 4-year students and population. As outlined previously on this Substack (see: American Aristocracy), the cost of college has become unaffordable for many Americans and more non-college pathways to a career are needed. This post will explore those pathways.

Surplus college graduates

The cost of 4-year college tuition has surged 1200% since 1980, while the increase in earnings of graduates has slumped. Furthermore, the share of US citizens in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree or higher has reached an all-time high of 37%, an increase from roughly 20% in 1980. Simply put, there are too many college graduates in the labor force and the ROI on a 4-year degree has tanked.

Figure 2: ROI on a 4-year degree

Community college

One good alternative to a bachelor’s degree is a 2-year associates degree from a community college. The cost of community college is far lower than a 4-year degree (see Figure 3) and the bang for your buck at the end of a 40-year career is far better than 4-year college.

Figure 3: Annual cost of community college by state (2021)^[vi]

Private sector firms often complain that they can’t find enough well-trained American labor. This is especially true today as supply-chains are reshored and labor markets are tapped in America. In Arizona, a semiconductor manufacturer wants to import Taiwanese workers rather than hire Americans. Instead of complaining, private firms should partner with local community colleges, craft and fund their curriculums, and hire their graduates. This would help address the trained labor shortage and equip workers with in-demand skills.

The Germany model: apprenticeships

Another approach is an apprenticeship program where a student splits time between an educational program and a part-time job at a sponsoring company. The mittelstand – which translates to middle class – is a system that has been mastered in Germany, where:

Over half of young Germans enter apprenticeships, which can lead to certification in more than 300 different careers. Many are blue-collar jobs ranging from construction to baking, but apprenticeships also cover white-collar fields like information technology and engineering.

An apprenticeship generally involves two to three years of work and study after secondary school. In Germany’s “dual system,” apprentices work on the job for three or four days a week and spend the rest of the time in academic instruction paid for by the government. This setup has been shown to ease a student’s transition into work. Openings in apprenticeships are based on employers’ demands for workers, and youths who’ve earned a vocational certificate are readily hirable.

National service

Long-term, America should have a national service program that trains high school graduates not only for the military, but also for other in-demand jobs like nursing, cybersecurity, and other IT fields. Updating and using Schedule A would be a good way to keep the program relevant. Done properly, graduates from the national service program will be highly trained and sought after by the private sector, like alumni of the IDF in Israel. The benefits of a national service program will be explored in a future full Ad Astra post.

Shop class offerings in American high schools have declined, leading to a generation less adept at hands-on tasks. This mirrors a broader trend where non-4-year college pathways, such as community colleges, have diminished. However, with rising college tuition costs and more people earning Bachelor's degrees, the ROI for a 4-year degree has decreased. Meanwhile, community colleges present a cost-effective alternative, with a competitive long-term ROI. To address the skilled labor shortage, private companies should collaborate with community colleges for curriculum and hiring. Looking internationally, Germany’s apprenticeship model offers a practical alternative, balancing work and study. The U.S. should also have a national service program, focusing on training in fields like IT, nursing, and cybersecurity.

June 2025: I republished this column because of the election of Zohran Mamdani to be the Democratic candidate for mayor in NYC, making him the frontrunner in the race. Mamdani is a "Democratic Socialist" who hails from the very progressive wing of the Democratic Party and campaigned on extensive government spending and intervention. To many in America, especially the Heartland, electing a self-described socialist as mayor of NYC is shocking.

How does this relate to vocational school? College in America is broken, and total student debt has climbed to almost $2 trillion. The average graduate today carries $40,000 in student loans. Many will never pay off their debt. For these people, the capitalist system has failed them, and they're eager to try something else. Can you blame them?

Mamdani's support comes overwhelmingly from the college-educated—the very same people who are saddled with student debt and have negative net worth. Until we fix college in America, which I believe means more vocational training, we're going to continue to have millions disaffected by capitalism and susceptible to bad ideas.

Education in America

College

K-12

Related

American Aristocracy (overview of higher education in America)

Uneducated (public opinion on college)

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Contact: greg@loql.ai