Teaching hard work is full of rewards

Masonry Construction, June, 2003 by Rick Yelton

When my oldest son who is now in college studying music attended elementary school, our parent-teacher association conducted fundraising events to help purchase a computer for every classroom. Now, in our community the emphasis on computers and modern educational efforts is causing funding for other programs to suffer.

Last month our school district urged voters to pass a tax increase on the premise that without the additional funding athletics, music, and drama programs would be cut. I was not the most popular parent in the room when I asked if this additional funding was to help increase the need for vocational training in our schools. Neighbors looked at me with squinty eyes when I mentioned that I thought it unfair that we urge funding for the high profile kids rather than those who just want to work hard.

My view on funding strong vocational opportunities is something very personal. The closer my high school age son comes to the time when he is about to decide what to do after graduation, the more I am convinced that he needs to learn a trade. He's a smart kid and hardworking on the things he likes to do. But I just can't see him succeeding in a college classroom setting, or me willing to pay for a "grand ole time" at school.

While our school district may not recognize that vocational education is important, leaders in the masonry industry do. Just ask Sam Alford, president of Crick Tool. Because of Alford's support, it's difficult to find a training program in the Texas/Oklahoma area which has not received some of his company's levels to help educate the future masons. "If we are going to have a masonry industry in the future, we need to support those kids who want to learn now," Alford told me at a recent trade show.

This type of grass-root industry support of vocational training will be proudly showcased again this month in Kansas City at the VICA Skills competition. The masonry portion of the national competition has succeeded due to the loyal sponsors of its technical committee members: the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association., BonTool Co., Brick Industry Association, Marshalltown Trowel Co., Mason Contractors Association of America, Masonry Institute of Tennessee, National Concrete Masonry Association, Portland Cement Association, Southern Brick Institute, SPEC MIX Inc., and Wasco Inc.

According to Kim Kahl, executive director of the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association and chairperson of this event, the Skills Championships and SkillsUSAVICA provide a tremendous boost for vocational training. "Pick up any local news: paper and you will see that a lot of publicity is given to students who do well in sports or fine arts. However, very little space is devoted to students who are actually putting in the time and effort to learn a trade that will benefit them personally and society as a whole for the rest of their lives. The state and national competitions allow these vocational students to get some of the recognition they deserve."

It's more than a shame, it's a crime that the policy makers in our federal government don't get this message. If our industry isn't careful, the Bush administration's proposal to shift Perkins funds from career and technical education entirely to fund the costs of the No Child Left Behind program will remove a needed educational resource for those students who want to learn a trade.

Why not take a recruiting trip later this month and watch the competition in Kansas City? Or perhaps just as important, when your local Skills winners are announced send a copy of the press release to your favorite politician.

To learn more about vocational funding and the Skills competition itself go to www.skillsusa.org. There is also a link to the legislative news posted by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). ACTE has been closely following Congress' approach to training funding and provides the most up-to-date information on this issue.

What's the purpose of publishing a great industry sourcebook like we have this month if we don't continue to support the efforts of vocational masonry instructors and the success of their programs.