The climate for the past 35 yrs+ has been college college college is the only way you will be happy at work and get a high pay check. Vocational programs were cut, when the college high priests got to the school systems and sold them on a cheaper way to run a school. Have all students take the same chalk talk programs, and say they will go to elite colleges. This cut the need for small class technical programs.

The company I work for has been looking for welders for several years. We get a few,applicants, but most do not understand that its not a cushy office job. The complaining is very annoying. None have any experience or even outside interest in hands-on work. This leaves them with no assets for this type of work. A liberal arts education is not a universally useful curriculum. And taking a late teenager and trying to educate them in the ways of construction or other technical careers, is near impossible if they have had no earlier training. I bet no college will take on a kid, in their basket ball or football program who has never played ball before.