That’s what they used to call it: on-the-job training. In the professional discipline of architecture, it was common for people to become architects by being an apprentice in an architectural office. After 12 years of apprenticeship, a candidate could sit for a state licensing examination—on-the-job training leading to professional certification.

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Over time, a combination of formal education and apprenticeship became the norm. Currently a professional degree, typically a Master of Architecture and two years of internship experience (aka apprenticeship) followed by an examination, is required. This hand-in-glove relationship between formal education and on-the-job training is a powerful one-two punch to prepare people for productive careers in fields ranging from architecture to zoology.   Internships and apprenticeships, mandatory or voluntary, paid or unpaid, are important topics of discussion on many university campuses – including what components make internships most valuable.

The combination of formal training with internships in contrast to a more traditional apprenticeship with little classroom exposure is growing. In 2014, President Obama wanted apprenticeships to grow 100% in five years so that by 2019 there would be 750,000 apprentices. President Trump has also authorized a $200 million increase to apprenticeship programs. This issue is nonpartisan and originates from skilled worker shortages nationwide, especially in the fields of construction, healthcare and information technology. The distinction between skilled worker and manager is diminishing. Rather than white or blue collar, light blue is becoming the destination color.

Many college students say hands-on work is “very” satisfying. The intellectual ability to identify, diagnose and solve problems comes in many forms and is in high demand.  Inspired education and training allows students to gain experience applicable in any setting. Joseph E. Aoun, in Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, says that anyone who creates a new “thing” or process becomes invaluable in the marketplace as well as “robot-proof.”

Internships and apprenticeships create appreciation for the consequence of a hierarchy.  Organizations are not flat, pancake-like structures. Not everyone is equal. Operational workplaces have workers and decision makers functioning with different roles dispersed throughout. In addition, both up and down the chains of command, accountability and effectiveness flow in both directions. This may be the most important lesson that anyone learns in any work setting. Unlike a college classroom, which is a pancake-like structure where all students are equal and guided by a single faculty member, the workplace demands complex interdependencies. Effective leaders and workers understand this interdependency as necessary to accomplish goals. In formal educational settings, the abilities and accomplishments of an individual are typically elevated above collaboration, as they should be. This makes the combination of the workplace and the schoolhouse powerful.

The apprenticeship model, with indentured servitude mindsets embedded in history, is just that—a historical artifact. Apprentices were functionally important and produced goods or services of value. Today, too many internships rely on and count shadowing, watching and observation as “work.” Such experiences do provide insight and knowledge, but very little experience with the real responsibility for the production of goods, ideas or services; in a word—work. Room to Grow: Identifying New Frontiers for Apprenticeship, from Burning Glass Technologies reinforces the impact of apprenticeships and their contribution to individuals and industries.

Effective universities build more opportunities to incorporate on-the-job training in both apprenticeship and internship settings as a pedagogical extension of the classroom. All areas of study would benefit from a model of internship/apprenticeship that combines learning and doing. Providing enough mentors and meaningful experiences for students to bridge the gap between learning about something and working is a challenge.

Many institutions and corporations provide unpaid internships, which seem to be a “win-win” situation. However, the model falls short because of the old adage, “You don’t value what you don’t pay for.” An unpaid worker, not to be confused with a volunteer (another subject altogether), provides questionable value to both the individual and the organization beyond networking—important for sure but not a substitute for work.

There is little, serious argument about whether or not either of these experiences contribute to positive knowledge and insights and future employment. One study at Southwestern University showed that 13% of the students engaged in internships were more likely to find employment. One in three of the students engaged in internships were “very happy” with the experience. In the African-American and Latino student populations, over 70% of the students were so positive regarding work experiences as part of the curriculum that they believed on-the-job training should be required. These observations were from a survey of 50,000 college students and graduates.

Internships and apprenticeships have amplified value when the student is engaged in real work that depends on and grows from the classroom learning experience at the university. Benefit is chrome plated when there is tangible output from the labor. That is what people should mean when they say on-the-job training.

From Franklin County Farm Bureau Manager, Gay Bowlin

BENTON – Spring is coming – but not soon enough – with the cold and some snow this past weekend it seems like it will take forever for warm weather to get here. Before long we will be seeing combines on the roads and I want to make sure that everyone remembers that they are Slow Moving Vehicles and to Share the Roadways.

Also, another reminder is to NOT text and drive – whether you are in a car, truck, tractor or combine it is illegal and dangerous. SAFETY IS OUR MAIN CONCERN.

Identity theft topped the list of consumer complaints filed to the Illinois Attorney General’s office in 2017. Most of the 2,500 complaints involved the unauthorized usage of credit cards through cyber-attacks. Just be careful when ordering online and/or giving your credit card information out.

COUNTRY Financial Representatives in West Frankfort – Adrienne Mason and Gavin Suver – had a pancake breakfast last Saturday at their new location in the VF Factory Mall. They asked Franklin County Young Leaders and Franklin County 4-H members to come in a help serve and clean up. The pancake breakfast was free but they received donations for both of these groups. The money that will be given to the Young Leaders will help on Scholarships this year. We want to thank Adrienne and Gavin for their support.

Franklin County Young Leaders Pork Loin Sale

JUST IN TIME FOR EASTER DINNER

FRANKLIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU YOUNG LEADERS

ARE TAKING ORDERS FOR SMOKED PORK LOIN.

READY FOR PICK-UP ON MARCH 28 & 29 –

½ LOIN – $35             FULL LOIN – $50

SEE A FCFB YOUNG LEADER OR CALL (618) 435-3616

Orders must be in by March 21

(ALL PROFIT WILL BE USED FOR COUNTY SCHOLARSHIPS)

The Foundation Scholarship and the Young Leaders Scholarships are available to anyone attending a post-secondary school to study in an agriculture related field.  All applicants must be a resident of Illinois and must be a Franklin County Farm Bureau Member or dependent in good standing.

The Foundation and the Young Leaders will both award scholarships based on: Academic performance and honors, rank in class, ACT/SAT score, community involvement, demonstrating an interest in agriculture and/or agribusiness, character and personality, maturity, intellectual interest, moral character and demonstration of leadership skills.

Applications must be returned to the Franklin County Farm Bureau no later than April 5, 2018 to be eligible for consideration for the 2018 scholarships.

Applications are available now and can be picked up the at the Franklin County Farm Bureau Building at 1210 Highway 14 West in Benton send to you by email. Call the office at (618) 435-3616 if you have any questions.

Franklin County Ag in the Classroom (AITC) has been very busy helping to promote the IL Reads Book Festival held on March 10^th, 2018 at the DuQuoin High School in Perry County.  The Franklin County AITC Coordinator, Melissa Lamczyk, gave away one book to every school district in Franklin County.  A box was placed in each school district for teachers to enter their name in the drawing.  The drawing was for one of the highlighted books, “Popcorn Astronauts”, at the book festival.

A book was given to Akin Grade School 5^th Grade, St John’s Catholic School in West Frankfort Pre-K, Denning Kindergarten in West Frankfort, Ewing Grade School Kindergarten, Thompsonville Christian Junior Academy, Sesser-Valier Grade School, Thompsonville Grade School and to Christopher and Zeigler Libraries.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.