q: which analyst is mentioned? a: Chad Aldeman q: who is an apprentice? a: Travis Strawderman q: where? a: Plumbers and Steamfitters Union in the state of Maryland q: how much does he pay? a: nothing q: why do they leave school? a: because they are bored q: who says this? a: Robert Lerman q: who is he? a: an Economics professor q: what does the apprentice teach? a: technical skills q: for how long? a: five years q: what is the monetary benefit? a: making money while they learn q: what is the focus in the US? a: pushing students to attend university q: Does Chad agree with Strawderman? a: no q: how does he feel about a degree? a: he calls it an insurance policy against unemployment and against low wages q: what about of just high school? a: wages are going to drop over your lifetime q: what has travis achieved? a: he paid off all his debts q: does he feel responsible? a: yes q: are students of high school bored? a: yes q: was it the same for Travis? a: yes q: what would they like to do? a: something besides sitting in a classroom q: is everyone successful in university? c: There's a widespread perception in the United States that a university degree is the key to success. But a growing number of educators now say there are other possibilities, especially for students who might not succeed at university level. 

This is not a traditional classroom. At the apprentice program run by the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union in the state of Maryland, Travis Strawderman and other students make money while they learn. "I \t's completely changed my life around," he said. "I've been able to pay off all my debts. I can say I'm actually responsible enough to have my own family." 

Strawderman's five-year program teaches him technical skills free of charge. He says he considered university, but it didn't interest him. Economics Professor Robert Lerman says Strawderman is not alone. "A lot of people are bored in high school," Lerman stated. "They leave high school because they are bored. They want to do something besides sitting in a classroom." Lerman says the education system in the United States in too focused on pushing students to attend university. "What we're doing now is we're doing now is we're saying unless you learn in this way you don't really have the chance for a rewarding career," he said. 

But Chad Aldeman, an analyst, says studies show the longer students saty in school the better chance they have at having a high paying and stable career. "If you only are a high school graduate your wages are going to drop over your lifetime-as opposed to a college degree," he said. "The college degree is really and insurance policey against unemployment and against low wages."
no