Our local high school tech center has a class in "construction trades" which has a fairly decent enrollment. They are considering adding a masonry class but we are a bit apprehensive about getting sufficient enrollment to make it pay even though masons get decent pay in this area. Ruth At 8:34 AM -0500 5/3/07, Jim Follett wrote: Brian: I think that a general lack of understanding, comprehension, and interest in the world around us is what has created so many problems for our country, And explains why we have problems in the trade ('s) finding good help. As a company we offer to pay the tuition to the school at the trade organization we belong to, as long as the student passes. As side from the fact that a large percentage of the students don't have good basic education coming in, they do not apply themselves, barely making it through. They do not seem to understand that the knowledge gained will advance their careers, and this most likely will be their career. We (those of us in the trade) are very concerned where we are headed, and the problems that the public is going to have due to poorly trained and unmotivated trade's people, as I know all of you are. If you can't get them motivated about there immediate surroundings, how are you ever going to get them the educate themselves, and be motivated about world issues, which have much more severe consequences? Jim -- Ruth Barton [log in to unmask] Dummerston, VT -- To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to: <http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>