Hi Clo -
I agree. Even - start teaching "trades" in high school. I don't know what high school courses are offered nowadays, but when I went - we had 3 paths offered: Academic, Vocational or General. Each had courses appropriate to the path. Academic was was those going on to college. Vocational for those going into specific trades. General was for all the rest. It worked well.
I don't know if the state of Maryland still has the same set up. This was a very long time ago.