Oh, and the "commie teachers unions" don't set curriculum. If anything, I've never met a single teacher that's anti vocational education. Teachers are employees that teach to a curriculum standard that is supplied by the state. Curriculum standards and funding are set by your state (and federal) government. By cutting funding for vocational education and increasing expectations of academic performance (ie, no child left behind), they have completely alienated any students that don't fit the standard college preparatory curriculum. This commie teacher union BS is exactly that BS, i ignorant or hate filled talking point. I just hosted 18 middle and high school teachers in a tech camp. They are very much commited to getting the kids into trades. And so are the ones who didnt come (95% probably, I see them all the time) These people went into the field to make a difference. They know what student debt is. They dont want that for the kids. Its society, often the parents that are the issue. We have our own councilors in the schools to make sure they know they have an option. The curriculum standards and no child left behind.... I am not touching that... But we bus students from the HS to take trade classes in the afternoons. And its free to take college class with the adults while in HS outside of that time. Also programs for recent grads, apprenticeships, state money, grants, scholarships. Lot of options with little or no out of pocket, often student gets a little $$ to cover expenses.