Don't denigrate those who opt for the trades

My wife and I were just in Germany on a vacation and on one of the tours of the local culture, the very interesting tour director had a most intriguing description of their educational system. The students are evaluated after the 10th grade as to their potential to be able to use and productively receive a college education or have them take on a planned education path to take part in the skilled labor force.

Heaven forbid! That would be the reaction of most American parents.

My son or daughter is not going to be a carpenter or a plumber. He or she is destined for much higher ground!

Wake up, America. This country was built on the work of these proud, productive and satisfying careers and will continue to be. Now, if it isn't evident, the vast majority of that work is done by new or existing immigrants.

The vast majority display a great work ethic and, if we are honest, a work ethic that been greatly diminished in a large portion of our most recent generation. By the way, education is free in Germany and the government pays the expense by all the skilled, employed taxpayers.

I really do not know if our recent assumptions of easily availability of higher education will ever be overcome in this country.

One might ask how these recruits are going to afford this path of ever escalating cost? Let's establish a system of multiple available loans that recruits' co-signers ensure repayment.

There are many party schools with the truly hopeful students back at the dorms, fraternities or sororities on a Wednesday night cracking the books and ignoring the glow of the bar strip!

Bruce Hendricks

Bartlett