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Brown attributed this phenomenon to many factors, not the least important of which is the fact that technical courses continue carry a stigma. ‘‘Unfortunately people think a blueâ€"collar job is less desirable...in fact often the very people who complain about skill shortages are the very first to steal their children out of these careers," said Brown. *‘Talk to parents today and everyone wants their children to be a doctor or a lawyer, whatever. It‘s understandable, they want their children to have a better lifestyle than they had. But it‘s not a very realistic attitude when you consider the provincial job market." The important thing to realize is that the technical jobs of today, are not the same as they were 20 years agoâ€"because of the introduction of the computer, tech has become high tech, and offers as many opportunites for career advanceâ€" ment and challenge as any other course of "It‘s this 63 per cent that I am concerned about. Because of the course choices these kids make a lot of them are entering the workforce without marketable skills...my concern is that the perâ€" centage of unemployed young will only increase because they don‘t have the skills industry is looking for, and industry is getting more and more demanding," said Brown. The shift away from technical programs is especially confusing in view of the highlyâ€"techniâ€" cal nature of today‘s society, and the fact that across Canada there is an extreme shortage of skilled labor, he added. ‘"If you go through the classified ads, I suggest that 85 per cent of all jobs advertised are either business or technical related. It‘s obvious that there are all kinds of jobs available, and I would suggest, damn good paying jobs as well. That‘s why I can‘t understand what‘s happening." "A lot of kids think if they take an automotive apprenticeship, they‘ll end up being a mechanic for life, but that‘s not the case. Because of the sophistication of today‘s cars, the auto industry needs the brightest people they can getâ€"it‘s a complex business. Any field you chose, there‘s Chronicle Staff They‘ve distributed buttons, saying Technical Education, Number 1, Don‘t leave school without it; school walls have been plastered with posters carrying the technical education message; a video has been produced illustrating the careers available with a technical eduction. Brown said such a drop is particularly alarming when viewed in light of the high youth unâ€" employment levels, and the fate of most students entering Grade 9. He pointed out provincial statistics show that only 18 per cent of students entering high school attend university, while another 19 per cent take courses at the college level. That leaves the majority, 63 per cent, who move right into the workforce, either before or after Grade 12 graduation. The Waterioo county board of education has launched an unusual recruitment campaign. Its objectiveâ€"to attract more students into the board‘s technical programs. â€" The message is clear: "technical education is your future," "technical education is all around According to James Brown, coâ€"ordinator of technological studies at the Waterloo county public board, this drive is in response to the sharp drop in the numbers of students taking technical courses, which has seen enrolment in this program decline from approximately 10,000 in the early 1980s to under 7,000 in September 1986. Total secondary school enrolment as of last September was approximately 18,000. ‘"For whatever reasons, students aren‘t choosâ€" ing to take business and technology courses anymore, the focus is on the academic subjectsâ€"â€" it‘s a serious problem. We‘ve wrestled with it; we really don‘t know what‘s causing it, and we really don‘t know how to stop it," he said. Promotion aimed at halting drop in enrolment Brown added that the enrolment drop is ironic, in view of the fact that the Waterloo county board of education has spent more than‘ $400,000 since 1984 to acquire the latest in computerized technical equipment, such as computerâ€"aided design equipment and computerized numerically controlled milling machines. In fact, he said Waterloo is considered one of the leaders in technical education in this province. ‘‘We felt there was a need to expose the children to the equipment they‘ll find in the work worldâ€"â€"we‘ve done our best to keep up with business and technological change. It‘s not a matter of us trying to teach new techniques on old equipment,"" he said. This problem is not one confined to Waterloo countyâ€"â€"similar stories will be told be school boards across the province. Brown said the key to WEDNESOA Y ICH 18, 1987 turning the situation around will be public education, and he will step up efforts to sell parents and youth on the benefits of a technical education. Continuing declines in enrolment, he said, can only be disastrous for the country, which needs skilled help to compete in our increasinglyâ€" technological world, and youth, who won‘t have the background needed to get a job. ‘‘We have to intensify our liason with industry and labor. If Canadian industry doesn‘t start having a greater commitment to training they‘re going to be in trouble. Skilled help is needed to do the jobs in industry, and offâ€"shore sources are drying up. It a national interest. The country can‘t survive with just doctors, lawyers and dentists... Society is also going to have to change. I‘m not trying to preâ€"judge parents, but they should be looking at the classified sections of the newspapers to see where the jobs are and steering their children in that direction,‘"" he concluded. & YJ\/\[\/\NNN/W‘/‘/V / J