Skilled trades are making a comeback in public schools
- Share via
Remember Metal Shop and Auto Shop?
The kids taking those high school classes were building practical skills (and sometimes instant careers) while we squishy liberal-arts types floundered to find ourselves, sometimes for years.
At some point, the big brains overseeing public education adopted an every-kid-goes-to-college ethos and vocational education fell out of favor in much of California.
But now it appears to be in the midst of a modest renaissance. A burgeoning program to teach skilled trades in the Los Angeles public schools is drawing lots of attention, including from my colleague Howard Blume, masterful education reporter at The Times for nearly two decades.
In a harmonic convergence that feels a bit like a trend, I simultaneously learned about an L.A. nonprofit offering vocational summer school that is significantly expanding, offering instruction for 600 high school students in trades like construction, welding, plumbing and solar panel installation.
The students learn skills, and often are paid
Here’s what’s bitchin’ (as we might have said when I was in high school) about this deal: Teenagers are trained in skills that could land them jobs soon after graduation. Some of them are paid right now. And the programs don’t preclude going on to college if that floats their boats. (Ack, ‘70s patois alert.)
The L.A. schools program pays a $1,000 stipend. The other program, known as Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, subsidizes multiple campuses in teaching skilled trades. At La Mirada High School, teacher Brent Tuttle said the high schoolers helping him teach welding this summer are making $1,700. Other students are also paid to receive the hands-on training.
Welding classes at La Mirada have become a hot commodity. And no wonder. Some parents have noticed that a four-year college degree can cost $300,000. Only to produce a barista with a scintillating vocabulary.
All six periods of La Mirada High welding were jammed last year, with a waiting list of 100 to get in. Tuttle plans to add a class in the fall and hopes, with a fellow instructor, to teach welding to 200 students.
The success of graduates shows that the program works
One graduate of Tuttle’s classes called him recently to express thanks, saying he’d just done his taxes and reported $150,000 in income. Another graduate built his own business, with $3 million in annual sales and five employees.
And with big construction projects on the horizon — rebuilding from this year’s fires and the 2028 Olympics — the market for skilled tradespeople promises to expand.
Hands-on work like plumbing, carpentry and welding also appears beyond the ever-expanding grasp of automation. “It’s getting scary what AI can do and what it can replace,” Tuttle said. “But if you are in the skilled trades or medical professions, I think you are going to be good to go.” The program at La Mirada and the other schools is funded by Harbor Freight and its chief executive, Eric Smidt, a self-made businessman who never attended college and built a fortune selling power tools, chain saws, log splitters and other equipment.
“It’s not like taking classes just to graduate,” said Seth Russell, 21, who got a job as a fabricator after earning certificates after taking Harbor Freight-sponsored welding classes. “I was working on something valuable for a very specific trade. It helped a lot.”
Today’s top stories
Trump officials vow to intensify immigration raids
- Kristi Noem said authorities plan to intensify immigration crackdowns thanks to $150 billion in additional funding from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” spending plan.
- Meanwhile, the Trump administration asked a federal appeals court to allow immigration agents to resume unfettered SoCal raids.
- There are signs that public support for strict immigration enforcement might be slipping.
- Here’s a heartbreaking story about how undocumented parents prepare for the unthinkable: Giving up their kids
California, other states, sue Trump for withholding $6.8 billion in crucial education funds
- California joined with other states in suing the Trump administration for holding back an estimated $6.8 billion nationwide in education funding.
- The money was part of a federal budget approved by Congress and was supposed to be released beginning July 1.
- The Trump administration has said that no final decision has been made on releasing the funds, while also claiming that some money has been used in ways contrary to its policies.
The number of people living on the streets dropped nearly 10% countywide this year
- The number of homeless people across L.A. County declined 4% in 2025, marking the second consecutive drop after years of steady increases, with a 10% decrease of people living in the streets.
- The decline, based on a snapshot taken in February, comes after billions in taxpayer funds spent to solve homelessness in the county, and with increasing scrutiny over how the money is being spent.
What else is going on
- As ICE raids spread across L.A., data shows a significant drop in 911 calls.
- Jewish faculty voiced support for UC Berkeley’s chancellor, who is facing a congressional antisemitism hearing in D.C.
- The Trump administration asked a federal appeals court to restart immigration arrests in seven SoCal counties.
- Activision Publishing is suing “Call of Duty” cheat developers in a ramping effort to kill “parasitic” online gaming hacks.
Commentary and opinions
- If there were more people like George Steffes in politics, the public wouldn’t hold the institution in such low esteem, writes Capitol Journal columnist George Skelton.
- Stephen Miller says Americans will live better lives without immigrants. He’s blowing smoke, writes business columnist Michael Hiltzik.
- Contributing writer Joel Kotkin argues that ICE raids are cruel, but so is an economy built on undocumented labor.
- California is having a bummer of a political summer. Columnist Mark Z. Barabak explores why.
This morning’s must-reads
From a $900 parking lot pop-up to a $1-billion valuation: Here’s how Dave’s Hot Chicken and its four founders built a worldwide fried chicken empire.
Other must-reads
- Restaurant gift cards make the perfect wedding present. Just ask this L.A. couple.
- A man serving a 378-year prison sentence is freed after 16 years. Now prosecutors want to send him back.
- Beyond missing pets and packages: How Nextdoor plans to reshape its social network.
For your downtime
Going out
- Music: Bad Bunny urged Puerto Ricans to own their rhythm in an emotional hometown show.
- Dining: A new burger spot has opened in USC Village, and the Chicago deli that inspired “The Bear” is hosting a pop-up in Beverly Grove. Here are some recently opened and upcoming additions to the L.A. food scene.
- Nightlife: The Mayan, a staple of downtown L.A. nightlife, will close its doors this fall after a 35-year run.
Staying in
- Entertainment: Tune in to the Emmy buzz today at 8:30 a.m., when nominations will be announced. Here’s what you need to know.
- Books: Will there ever be another editor as powerful as Anna Wintour? ”Elite“ chronicles a fading empire.
- 🥗 Here’s a recipe for arugula salad with egusi granola, sorghum and sherry vinaigrette.
- ✏️ Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games.
A question for you: What’s your favorite California beach?
Maria says, “PEBBLE BEACH” (Love the enthusiasm!)
Linda says, “Black point beach in The Sea Ranch. Sonoma county.”
Email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com, and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.
And finally ... your photo of the day
Today’s great photo is from Juliana Yamada at Descanso Gardens’ new exhibition, “Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World.” It highlights female artists and touches on themes of climate inequities in L.A.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Jim Rainey, staff writer
Diamy Wang, homepage intern
Izzy Nunes, audience intern
Hugo Martin, assistant editor for Fast Break
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, Sunday writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
Eighteen months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires, survivors are rebuilding — not alone, but together. On Poppyfields Drive in Altadena, Whitney Haggins and at least 6 of her neighbors are leading the way.
Today we discuss one of the pivotal events of the 1960s: the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Though the gunman was caught at the scene, confessed at trial, and even bragged about the shooting, his motives have largely been forgotten.
Modern LA earned its first smoggy nickname 450 years ago, as the “bay of smokes.” At the La Brea tar pits, we take a short walk through a long history with curator Regan Dunn, who explains how and why the first Angelenos would have set fires that filled the broad bowl of LA and foretold the curse of smog.
