At a time when traditional colleges are under scrutiny ― less for presumed ideological extremism than concerns about the inherent value of the education they offer and the financial worth of the degrees they confer ― new light is being shed on what traditionally were called trade schools but which have evolved into far more complex, technologically focused, market-oriented endeavors.
A recent headline in the Wall Street Journal nicely sums up the uncertainty as to whether a liberal arts education will lead to any job, much less a coveted one: “College Grads Brace for Chilly Market.” It turns out that a degree in art history or English literature has limited practicality. But certifications in plumbing, welding, automotive repair and the like ― those will get you somewhere, for the excellent reason that skilled services are always in demand.
Traviss Technical College was the first of Polk’s local institutions to address such needs…