How would we deal with Disaster ?

[cowman]

I am always amazed at how many stores have boxes for donations of school supplies this time of year. Obviously heading back to school is huge expense, clothes, supplies etc., and it is tough for those who are making a lower income, but in a two parent family with both parents working there should be some way to get retrained if possible to raise the income level of at least one parent.
I have heard several of the lower income folks complaining loud and clear about their situation which I certainly sympathize with, but in the next breath hear them say that there is no way in hell they are going to get an oil patch job and be away from home.

Sometimes a personas financial situation is about choices of where they work and what sort of lifestyle they will be comfortable with. I think the provincial government has put some initiatives in place to assist adults to become better trained, and certainly the ones that have the desire and work ethic to get ahead can do so in Alberta.

[cakadu]

There is no doubt that for economic development to happen and to be able to attract skilled workers, investment etc., that we need to be training people right here at home.

Even the types of skilled trades that we will need in the future will be different from those of the past. We have metal workers here and for future endeavours we will need stainless steel workers.

We can import the technology that we need to experience growth in many sectors and complimentary to that, we need a skilled workforce that has specific technical skills.

We also need employers who are willing to take the time to help people acquire those skills. Many do not want, or even have the time, to train workers -- yet at the same time even tradespeople need experience and mentoring from others.

What we also need is the ability for our young people and those returning to be retrained to not have to go into serious debt in order to get the skills and knowledge that they need. Many of the rules around getting an education have changed. Now parents are expected to help pay for the first 4 years of post-secondary education for kids. How can low earners, or those with 4 or 5 kids to put through be expected to do that?

A strong work ethic is required and I wonder just how many kids have that now when so much has been just given to them over the years? There are many good kids out there who do work hard, earn a good living and are very responsible, but how many are ill-equipped to handle life in the "real world"?

[cakadu]

Linda, there are lots of deserving kids that cannot obtain a post secondary education because their family cannot afford the cost. Some young people end up attending Lethbridge University because they cannot get into U of A or U of C so added to the cost of getting their education is travelling that far from home and likely not able to get home very often during the year if they happen to come from central or northen AB. In my community the 'in' thing for families is to buy a condo in Edmonton for the kids to live in when they attend either university or college. This likely is a cost saving measure in the long term because of the savings on rent for four years or so plus the resale value of the condo, however, not every parent or parents can afford to buy a second dwelling just to help the kids along.

Right now many young people aren't going to college or university but choosing to apprentice in a trade just because of the demand and the ability to earn as they learn.

[cowman]

Well being somewhat biased??? because I like to work with my hands, I might suggest a lot of these university educations are defacto a bunch of drivel? We really don't need more little office nerds...in my humble opinion! We need people who are ready and able to get their hands dirty and actually do some work!!! Well I said I was biased...
The boy was a whiz kid. Actually maybe the smartest person I have ever known!
Of course after listening to 18 years of my ranting of right wing pro-business rhetoric, he went to university to take commerce. Got the degree but discovered he hated accounting! Came home to dear old Dad and started his real education!
Might not be pretty but slowly I'm getting him educated in the real world!
The world of making a payroll, paying the bills, making a profit and common sense!
I'm not some kind of guru. I don't have all the answers. But I do know how to make a buck...and I know how to hold on to it! Sorry if that sounds a bit egotistical...always my biggest fault!
At times I feel bad that I pushed him into this life because it really isn't his nature. He would be more content to be something else...I am sure...a philosopher or a teacher or an artist or something along that line. What the hell are you going to do? You only get what you can work with! And it is amazing in the long run how close the apple falls from the tree, as he is coming around and has become a fairly competent businessman...with a little advice from old Dad!

[cowman]

And oh man would l love to hear him tell about how many times he has GIVEN old DAD advice !!!!!!!!

One of my sons is a drilling consultant, has his Welders Ticket and Pressure Ticket and loves getting out in the patch and working side by side with the 'boys'.
The other one is a geologist and power engineer, has a desk job and is a totally different breed of cat !!! Both of them got a good basic education in how to work hard, be fussier than heck and how to be responsible to whomever was paying their wages from their dad. From their mother they got nothing but nagging according to them, but surprisingly enough they still call the old gal for advice now and then !!