Anaheim : 3 Tech School Students Still Want Money Back

At least three of the six students picketing a technical school in Anaheim last week are back in class. The others have ceased picketing but still want their money back for what they call “a rip-off.”

The students demanded a $3,602 refund for a six-month telephone maintenance and installation course that they claim includes instruction on an obsolete system. Officials at the Associated Technical College said the charges were ridiculous and it was too late to ask for a refund.

Doug Smith, a Yorba Linda resident, echoed his fellow students in his complaint that “they promised us a lot.” Instead of an 85% job-placement ratio, the students said they found job possibilities almost nonexistent.

“I called over 30 interconnect companies,” Smith said. “When they found out what I was being trained on, they didn’t want me.”

Rather than continue with his classes, Smith and at least one other student, Leon Barton of Santa Ana, decided to quit. Smith said it was “$3,600 and six months of efforts down the drain. I got an A on every single test. I’m not someone who’s just complaining because I’m too dumb to learn.”

A spokesman with American Telephone & Telegraph said last week that the system the students are trained on is an older one and they “would not be as competitive as someone who was trained on a more advanced system.”

College Director Robert Ebersol said the students who have returned to their course, which is nearing completion, will receive extra instruction. With the exception of one who requested to stay with the same professor, the others were moved to another class, Ebersol said.

Chris Herbstritt, a security guard in Buena Park, said he decided to go back to what he called “Mickey Mouse training” because “I have to pay the money back to the school, so whatever little I can get out of the school, I might as well get it.”