Should Fabrication Be Taught in High Schools? Why Hands-On Skills Matter More Than Ever

At Vision Tech, we spend our days building custom parts, problem-solving with machines, and watching raw materials transform into precision components. But we didn’t all start out as CNC operators, welders, or designers. Most of us started with a class, a mentor, or a moment where we realized we could build something. That spark doesn’t always come from a textbook. Sometimes it comes from a welder’s arc, the hum of a mill, or the satisfaction of turning a design into something real. And that’s why we believe fabrication absolutely should be taught in high schools.

The Skills Gap Is Real

Skilled trades are facing a labor shortage across the country. As experienced welders, machinists, and fabricators retire, the next generation isn’t stepping in fast enough to meet the demand. The message many students have heard for decades, that college is the only path to success, has left shop programs underfunded or removed entirely. But the need for skilled trades hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s growing.

Fabrication isn’t just about metal and machines. It’s about critical thinking, spatial reasoning, teamwork, and applied problem-solving. These are career-launching skills, and they should be introduced early, alongside math, science, and language arts.

Real-World Relevance Builds Confidence

For many students, especially those who don’t thrive in traditional classroom settings, fabrication provides a powerful sense of purpose. There’s something transformative about creating a part that works; about seeing a physical result of your effort. It builds confidence, teaches patience, and fosters pride in doing something well. High school shop classes can be the first place a student discovers they’re good with their hands or that engineering isn’t just theory, it’s problem-solving in action. Fabrication is often where the lightbulb goes off.

More Than Just a Job, It's A Career

Welding, machining, and fabrication aren’t fallback careers. They’re high-paying, high-skill fields with real growth potential. From aerospace and automotive to medical devices and architecture, fabrication touches nearly every industry. High school students exposed to these skills can go straight into apprenticeships, trade schools, or even start their own businesses down the line.

And with technologies like CNC machining, waterjet cutting, and additive manufacturing evolving quickly, the field is more exciting and innovative than ever.

Building a Better Community Starts with Opportunity

When schools invest in fabrication and skilled trade programs, they aren’t just helping students. They’re investing in their local economy, their future workforce, and the vitality of their region. Students who develop skills locally are more likely to stay, contribute, and build strong communities.

At Vision Tech, we’ve hired incredible talent who got their start in high school shop classes. We’re proud to be part of a field that rewards hard work, creativity, and grit, and we want more students to have access to that opportunity.

How to Help

If you’re a parent, advocate for shop programs in your district. If you’re in the industry, consider speaking to classes, donating materials, or offering shop tours. If you’re an educator, know that teaching fabrication is about more than tools, it’s about teaching kids how to think, build, and believe in their abilities.

We’re not just building parts. We’re building futures. Let’s give the next generation the tools, and the torch, to carry this trade forward.

www.vision-tech.us

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