Letter: More education isn’t the full answer

The European apprenticeship program is not necessary, we have that already in the trades and learning on the job. The funny thing is that education qualifies you for very little beyond giving you an edge in the hiring process because employers understand that your knowledge is more than likely greater than someone who never attented college. However, experience performing a job in your field, your ability to translatw what you have learned into success in your profession and your natural abilities are what make you successful. Nowhere more than in the trades is that illustrated. On compensation, you should be paid for the contribution you make. Companies do the real job training, not colleges or community colleges. Education is not the answer to a vibrant economy. Yes, companies will come if you have talent but most of our talent leaves the state because business is not here in the first place. I left in 1976 and ther are still not the jobs here 37 years later.

Kenneth - good point! Are we properly defining workforce capability? Yes, we need, an educated and prepared workforce to the benefit of those who provide, those who employ and the state in general. However, we need more than one set of skills. Are we searching for the right mix of applicants? Could NH find itself with more college graduates but lacking machinists? Might we become flush with post-docs in social engineering but lacking the skills to keep our transportation systems operational? In some parts of Europe, highly skilled technical workers and tradesmen are well respected and valued and remunerated accordingly. Not everybody is a good match for the college system and we have to move away from the ideas like, “the only valid path to education is through formalized college” or worst of all, “if you did not learn – like I learned - you did not learn”. Many of our best, brightest (and most successful!) did not go “college” but through other means became very educated, capable and out-of-the-box thinkers. The school of experiential learning can be as much or more rigorous a preparation. As we explore the issue of the human resources needed to fill needs for our institutions, facilities and employers; I suggest we use a wide-angle lens. Look for people with skill, capability and dependability, not just college graduates.