Working Men/Women

Today we are going to look at trade jobs, and the importance of them.  After reading The Night Worker, I thought harder on jobs no one really thinks about off the bat: trade jobs.  In this story, a boy named Alex wants to go with his dad to his night job, which is construction.  They see a bunch of other workers in the night time: police, mail personnel, etc... By seeing and experiencing a job in construction, Alex is moved to want to be like his father, to become a night worker. There are a lot of jobs like in the book including construction, plumbing, carpenters, etc... Other jobs that are necessary that are put on the back burner are service jobs: teachers, emergency personnel, government workers (mailmen).  The majority of these jobs aren't something students go to college for.  They train with companies or special schools designed for specific jobs; hard-working jobs.  These are all positions that need to be filled too, that way we have protection, buildings, mail.  In our school system has its faults by not promoting the importance of these jobs, but instead promoting college as the ultimate end goal.  However, when it comes to minority groups or other families that are low income, the hope to pay for college dims ever so slightly each coming year.  This leads to dismay, and eventual "who cares" attitude toward school because there are no real future options in sight.  If students were given the chance in high school or even middle school to start realizing every option and developing their talents, then they will be more encouraged to take on their futures.  Instead we have a lot of discouraged students who find means in minuscule ways; part time jobs, retail jobs that have no real value or trade.  Another option is students reaching out for a college degree by taking financial aid and then finding themselves in debt for the rest of their lives.  Schools should start providing more options other than college.  I'm not saying colleges aren't great, but there are a lot of other options for careers that stretch beyond a college classroom.  Options with great benefits and money to go along with it.  That spells a great future for a lot of people in need of one.  Then we can have more students like Alex who have a future to look forward to, with a good job lined up and without the burdens of college if unattainable.