@reaply @lovelylovely I agree. This is off the topic of the original post, but... I was raised by old school Germans who told me how things worked when they were young. (1900-1925) It makes good sense to me.

This idea that everyone needs to get a college degree is nonsense. What about all of the skilled jobs like plumber, electrician, baker, carpenter, chef, welder, dental technician, auto-repair, line cook, on and on?

Back in the day, the German system made the assumption that only some people are suited for university degrees. At around age 12, kids are tested and are placed on the trade path or university path.

Trades are primarily taught by businesses in that trade, not by schools. All such businesses with more than 8 employees are required by law to take on an apprentice and this is subsidized by the government. The businesses are fine with this. They train the kid and when they turn 18, they've got a finely trained person ready to step into a job.

The last time I was in Austria in 1991, this was still the way. The company I went to visit designed and built sophisticated electronics for various industrial applications. I spent several days with the owner and in the shop. They executed the whole process from engineering and design, to PC board layout, had the pick-and-place machines, soldering, to finished electronics. They had two such apprentices in the shop learning all about it.

Why can't we do this? The Germans and Austrians have been doing this successfully for at least 120 years, probably much longer.

@reaply @lovelylovely

But you need both. Tradesmen can teach only what they actually can already do well, schools rely on newest research and best existing practice.

We have progress because some people are theorists and are paid for using their time to think. And it's easier to disseminate progress in schools, where few experts teach a large number of students, instead of apprenticeships, where a tradesman can teach only a few students in a lifetime