No household crisis gets your attention quite like a plumbing leak. The night I walked into our kitchen and realized I was standing in a puddle large enough to float a kayak, I screamed for my husband.
We’re more fortunate than many; one of our old friends is a retired master plumber. After soaking up standing water with old towels, two adults, with framed college diplomas hanging on the wall, did what we always do in the face of a plumbing emergency. Minutes later, Charlie and his tools came to our rescue.
I thought about our ‘plumbing disaster’ the night I watched President Obama address the nation’s school children. Despite one’s politics, it was an inspirational speech with excellent advice for every child.
Unfortunately, the success stories our president shared almost always concluded in a college education — as though success is defined by a four year college degree. Certainly, every person who truly wants a college education and has the ambition to work for it, should have the opportunity. But the reality is that not everyone has the resources or the desire to earn a four year degree. Our friend, Charlie, did not — and I, for one, am grateful! He was blessed with a mechanical aptitude — a curiosity to know how and why things work — and the ability to use a tool to get the job done.
In his next talk to students, I’d like to see President Obama address alternative options to a BA or a BS degree: the countless good trade schools, vocational technology courses, and available apprentice programs.
The next time the air conditioning goes off in the White House on a one hundred degree day, let’s see what those Harvard graduates in the Cabinet advise…
2 Comments
I completely agree Ms Peggy. Each person should choose their own path. I am always intrigued and awed by carpenters. I so love my home but never met the man who built it – he is long gone but his spirit lives on within these walls. Last time we had a plumber here he dug holes & slid in the mud til he fixed the problem. I thought of Dirty Jobs the whole time, offering him water, coffee…and letting him wash up in my white bathroom. When he left I was thankful to have hot water again to clean up the mess he made. Circle of life I suppose.
I wrote a letter to then Senator Obama about this very issue. I did so after reading an article he wrote in which he said “Today, a college education is the only thing that will give our kids a chance to succeed”. I was outraged because he, in fact, told every student involved in Skilled Trade Education, that they were wasting their time. Well, believe it or not, I received a response. Mr. Obama said that he appreciated my comments about Skilled Trade schooling and the importance of investing in technical training.