Vo-Tech Schools Do Count
3/1/2008
While I agree the industry needs to address the growing shortage of
entry-level techs, I disagree with the point made in your article,
“Developing Tomorrow’s Staff,” [December 2007, pg. 48],
that read, “Perhaps you rely on a vo-tech program at the local high
school or post-secondary level for the technical training you require
for a qualified entry-level apprentice. That’s mistake number one!”
That really hit home for me. I guess I should just resign my position
at the local vo-tech school as the auto collision instructor since my
students won’t be qualified in your opinion as “entry-level trained.” I
train my students as “real world” as I can in the setting I’m given
and, if I don’t say so myself, many of my kids are very
ready for entry-level work at a body shop. We take in customer work in
my lab, and my students are expected to turn out the kind of quality
work we can all be proud of.
Granted, out of the 40 to 45 students I have every year, maybe 10 to 12
really have what it takes. I believe these kids deserve the chance to
make it in this business. Putting an ad in the paper and hoping you get
a prospect who has a good attitude and wants to learn is ridiculous
when you have 18- and 19-year-old kids who’ve taken auto collision and
already know how to do some things.
Robert Newland, Auto Collision instructor
Ohio Hi Point Career Center
Bellefontaine, Ohio