[john hall]

What kind of trade school? Maybe I should ask what is his major?
When I was studying Machining, you should have seen what enrolled in class right after an aircraft company in town said they planned on hiring a bunch of machinists. Had a girl show up to class (shop class) on her first day wearing a dress and high heels. Had another guy tighten a mike onto a part in the lathe so hard that he cut it on at low RPM's and the mike stayed on. This was 30 years ago.

Seems to me, computer guys start figuring out how to fix/repair electronics in their early teens, carpenters/machinist/welders learn to make stuff early on as well. Mechanics start tinkering by their mid teens. Farmers, same thing. Guess what I am saying, the schools should look for "the right aptitude" before bothering to teach. Hey, the kid that never talks to anyone might have the brains to cure cancer, but he doesn't have the personality to be a salesman---both are needed and respected professions, just need the correct people in each.
We are all capable of doing/learning something, it would be nice if schools would help the kids discover what they are capable of. Of course they could be like my high school--550 kids in my graduating class and the vast majority headed to college--the rest of us were left to fend for self.