Ask Judge Smith: Finding security in a changing job market
Interview by Anthony Cammarata
Q. Judge Smith, during your time on the bench, have you observed any troubling trends with our youth?
A. Yes. Many children drop out of school. Others skip school or attend but don’t actively learn. Some schools add to the problem by promoting students who cannot read, write, or perform math at their grade level.
Q. What can the State’s courts do to fix this problem?
A. Our juvenile and dependency courts encourage families to manage issues and to make use of available social programs. For example, some kids skip school to avoid embarrassment because they don’t have a change of clothes. Thus, programs that cover basic needs make a difference.
Our juvenile, drug, and mental health courts help kids and parents deal with their issues. The courts encourage minors to learn, enhance their skills, and set goals for themselves. We want kids to think about the future and prepare themselves for gainful employment.
Q. Compare kids with and without an education.
A. Kids who neglect their education often lack purpose and good options. Young adults who lack good and secure jobs usually spend more time in our criminal and family law courts. Conversely, those with a good education get a head start in life.
Q. College costs a fortune! What advice would you give teenagers who are undecided about work and college?
A. We now face the beginning of a new industrial revolution involving artificial intelligence. This sea change will eliminate many rote and white-collar jobs, just as the coming age of robotics will eliminate many manual labor jobs. Both trends will create work too. New prospects will favor those who are adaptable and skilled.
Let’s take one example. Artificial intelligence requires vast amounts of energy. We are building new power plants and upgrading our power grids to meet this demand. One upside of artificial intelligence is that it will create the need for an additional 500,000 electricians.
Teenagers should consider getting vocational training and licensure in trades such as electrical work and plumbing. Doing so will ensure they can earn a good living and minimize the risk that computer software or a machine will replace their jobs.
Some jobs require a college diploma. To hedge their bets, teenagers should consider obtaining a no-frills bachelor’s degree.
Lucky for us, the cost of obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Tallahassee State College is a bargain! Students can work part-time and pay for their degrees over time with little to no debt. Mastering a trade and earning a college degree provides security and options.
