Many days, I doubt if anyone really has a clue in Washington, D.C. So many times we hear about partisan bickering, bad decisions and unproductive meetings.
That wasn’t the case yesterday. Mike Rowe, the creator, host and executive producer of the Discovery Channel’s show Dirty Jobs was on Capitol Hill to testify to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. He was called before the committee to talk about the lack of vocational training in our schools and the number of jobs available that can’t be filled because there are not enough qualified tradespeople to do the work.
Mike’s brief presentation was riveting as he spoke about his grandfather – a jack of all trades – and how today’s education system has significantly reduced the importance of vocational education.
His call for a nationwide PR effort to bring vocational education back to schools was funny, impassioned and thought provoking. You can read the text of the statement at the link above, but Mike is a very effective communicator, and you would miss the emotion in his voice. If you want the full impact of the testimony, check out the video here.
Watching that video, it’s difficult to figure out who was more impressed to be in the others presence – Committee Chairman Senator Jay Rockefeller or Mike.
I love Mike Rowe and all the shows he does on Discovery Channel.
I couldn’t agree with him more. I have been advocating more VoTec classes and schools for years. With the current educational problems and costs across the country it is time we do something about convincing the public that a college education may not be for everyone. But, we still need productive people in other areas of endevor and it is time we do something about it.
Rog
I agree with Roger 100%.
Some of the most productive, talented, and accomplished workers I’ve known never stepped one foot in a college, but rather learned a trade through primary school, high school and then an apprenticeship on a job.
I never went to college and frankly, I’ve done well.
We need a lot of college graduates, and we need a lot of accomplished tradespeople.
I hope this country wakes up before it’s too late.
Mike Rowe did us all a favor saying it so eloquently.
Thanks Tom.
Wow, you know I have always liked Mike Rowe but now like him even better. Thanks for posting this Tom, I really enjoyed it and couldn’t agree more. Being in the construction industry it is evident that we have a shortage of skilled labor. We have plenty of college educated supervision and management as well as daily unskilled labor but the middle grown is difficult to fill.
A curious thought just occured to me from what he said about the cost of a plumber in the future. What will happen when the demand for the skill laborer becomes greater than the manager?