Editorials

Congressman right to tout apprenticeships and trades

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, had some sound advice when he recently visited Lycoming County to tour PMF Industries Inc.

Sound advice that not only could aid individual students in their pursuit of opportunity and economic security, but aid our economy as a whole.

Keller, as the Williamsport Sun-Gazette reported in Monday's edition, encouraged students to consider apprenticeships.

"You should be encouraging students to look at all options, not just four-year colleges," Keller said during the tour.

Keller is right.

For many students, an apprenticeship in the trades is a better fit for their talents and interests. An apprenticeship is a "foot in the door" to industries with opportunities to advance and to build a career.

But beyond being in the best interests of many individual students, it's in all of our best interests to have a diversified workforce with as wide a range of skills and abilities as possible.

We, of course, are glad so many of our local and regional schools recognize the value of apprenticeships. We are grateful schools like Williamsport Area High School, Jersey Shore Area High School and Columbia-Montour Vocational Technical School, among others, work with industries to best serve the varied needs of their students and that need for a diversified workforce.

As Ken Cryder, director of Columbia-Montour Vocational Technical School told the Sun-Gazette, "I think it's an excellent opportunity for people."

He's right.

These apprenticeships offer excellent opportunities to our young people, and these industries offer excellent opportunities to workers in our region.

We are glad to see the industries and schools working together to promote their continued growth and contributions to our regional economy.