AntcuFaalb said:

I think it's part of this whole "we aren't a vocational school" attitude that high school faculty/staff have nowadays. It's almost as if they're afraid to discuss careers outside of academia with students.

I went to an average public high school in New Jersey and post-HS plans were only discussed once or twice in prearranged meetings with "guidance" counselors.

I think they just assumed that everyone would go to some kind of college and figure out their future plans there. Unfortunately, many (most?) of those college-bound students fly blind during those four years and wind up in a situation like your friend.

It's not faculty and staff. It's politicians. (in the US at least)

Schools are largely judged on how many college ready students they produce, not how many students leave school with a good plan for a paying vocation.

That's why vocational training budgets are constantly being cut. Classes like wood shop, Air conditioner repair, auto shop, turf management are always being cut because they don't fit into higher test scores and federal funding.

A major change is needed, but it needs to come from the top.