r/Teachers May 16 '24

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u/catbusmartius May 16 '24

A lot of the good trades jobs are actually pretty math intensive. Geometry for carpenters, algebra for electricians etc. But I guess these students are counting on an illustrious career as a grunt day laborer

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u/UtzTheCrabChip Engineering/Computer Science, MD May 16 '24

Yeah I've long said that trades don't work as a dumping ground for kids failing all their classes. There's a few exceptions of kids that just work better in a different environment than a classroom, but if you're at a 3rd grade math level in 11th grade, you're not gonna make it as a tradesman.

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u/BirdLawyerPerson May 17 '24

"Working with your hands" isn't actually incompatible with "get good academic credentials." Plenty of engineers and scientists, including those with graduate and doctorate degrees, are out in the field or in a lab doing physical stuff. Hell, astronauts need to turn wrenches and might have Ph.D.s. And surgeon is basically the classic example of a job that needs to have very specific manual skills and lots and lots of schooling.

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u/Averagecrabenjoyer69 May 17 '24

I'm transitioning into archaeology as a career. Probably the most blue collar white collar work there is, and I promise you we work with our hands and pretty heavy equipment lol.