One step back, one step forward

摘要

Back when manufacturing jobs were plentiful, most U.S. high schools had machine shops as part of their vocational education programs. Voc-ed was for kids who probably would not be going to college and needed practical skills they could use to land jobs after high school. Things aren't the same today. High school administrators and parents are pushing more students to go to 4-year colleges, and the long-term decline in manufacturing jobs makes people wary of a career in metalworking. But, as we've all heard, there's still a shortage of skilled machinists.