I have no firsthand information about these trade schools nor do I have any information to suggest that they are fraudulant or dishonest. Trains probably doesn’t either, hence they publish their ads. The OP provided no information about his experience other than that he was not happy with the outcome. I’m loath to cast dispersions on any person or organization for no reason or when I have no information to back me up. That’s not defensive… just my sense of fair play.
The “ostrich head in the sand” idea applies? Or the “I know nothing” approach? The various abuses by trade schools are widesprad and well-known. Claiming ignornce is no excuse. At the very least Trains could simply require trade schools that seek to advertise to produce their most accreditation report in order to place the ad.
(1) Don’t know of a single Class 1 that will hire on the basis of a 1 week correspondence or trade school course. The vetting system, right or wrong, wants to know a lot more … plus the background tests and criminal record/driving record/financial records test pretty well separate the wheat from the chaff.
The clowns with the “I showed up, what more do you expect?” attitude can go try to flip burgers and upsell fries, if they are even qualified to do that. As it is, an awful lot of new-hires don’t survive the first 6-24 months. (Doesn’t matter the craft or profession …and the railroads are a lot softer than they were even 10 years ago.)
(2) Johnson County Community College (KS) and North Platte Community College (NE) have programs partially supported by BNSF and UP respectively, not only for training new hires, but retraining and updating the old heads. I know NS has some idea that it is going to reach out to somebody, but they still have a good sized training system (by craft) spread out on their system. (Impressed with what I saw at Charlotte for the CWE/MoW folks.)
Sure. Point me to some real evidence then. Names, dates, nature of abuse, etc.
If you want to be in denial, so be it. Look at what Mudchicken said about programs in his area. People in education will tell you the same thing. And it’s not my job to prove it to you. It’s the trade schools’ job to show they are accredited. Trade schools have accounted for a dispropotionate share of the abuse of student loan programs through their lies and misrepresenations, cheating the students and the taxpayer. It has gone on for years. Two of many pages of links:
http://www.davidsugerman.com/wp-content/uploads/GAO-Report-For-Profit-Colleges.pdf Includes shorter, certificate programs.
And here is a link that details what a prospective student should look for. It is a big problem:
https://kcrlegal.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/tips-to-avoid-trade-school-fraud/
I’m not talking strictly leagal. I’m talking ethics and morals.
I disagree with you on this issue. That’s all there is to it. We will never come to an understanding, I’m afraid.
[swg] Hamilton & Jackson speak very clearly, just like greasing an engine or ones palm.P.T. Barnum has been right on so many things.
I’m still waiting for a job that requires the Liberal Arts B.A. I got in 1982…and I bet it cost more than the week long railroad class.
Apples and oranges.
I doubt if Cosmo magazine gives a damn if any of the pecker enlargement techniques that are advertised actually work…
I wonder what that due diligence would look like ?
Randy
I don’t want to look at that due dilligence. All yours, buddy.
(but I would hope certain publications want a standard a bit higher than Cosomo).
So a higher standard of publication can advertise pecker enlargement products as long as they know or have real evidence that the product works?
No, but I would hope a higher standard of publication wouldn’t feel the need to have pecker pills to begin with.
I was thinking along similar lines, although not THAT similar. Would Trains Magazine run ads for synthetic bath salts?
Dating sites like eharmony would also be in a lot of trouble if each ad had to be verified for complete honesty , and you would see more profiles like “stupid man, 45, unattractive, boring, and humorless, seeks beautiful lady, 20 - 24, for serious relationship”…There’s always some hyperbole in advertising or else the ad simply wouldn’t generate any interest. That’s why it is up to the consumer to beware… do your research and don’t take ads at face value.
So far we’ve compared a certain publicaton (which I never named) to Cosmo and eHarmony.
Ok…?
May as well add Popular Mechanics to the list, anyone else remember those 100 mpg carburator ads they used to run in almost every issue?
You choose to ignore consumer fraud laws at your own peril. It is not just “buyer beware” cheat, lie, defraud with impunity as you seem to think. I recall well years ago at a large department store in Chicago how we had to be careful what we stated in ads, especially for the Tribune, because they kept track of complaints. Once they received a few about any ads we ran, we knew they would become very vigilant in future.
Your trivializing this matter strikes me as odd. In the case of trade schools, there is a huge and long record of fraudulent, fly-by-night operators with prosecutions. Trains must be aware of that. And under US law, they can be held responsible.
Anyone remember sea monkeys? The advertising showed them playing billiards and sitting in chaise lounges… not quite the way it really was…
I would think actual railroaders would think Trains should be more careful about programs for potential rail workers. Zugman is and does. Ulrich is not, he’s in trucking., I believe. Randy, you are in railroading. Why ridicule the ethics?