I cannot parent them (much to the chagrin of the one who lived with me for a while, and spent a great deal of time criticizing how I was parenting my little guys). I can mentor. I can listen. I can locate services that will help them and/or their families. I can treat the parents as the experts on THEIR kids, and I can do so respectfully. Most importantly, I can be aware of cultural differences that cause communications to break down.

I am not teaching this year, as I've been "promoted" to a quasi-administrative counseling position. I spend a great deal of time meeting with parents and students, and discussing life planning.

I am working with the local community college to pre-enroll students in certificate programs so that they will already be started prior to graduation. I am working with local trade unions to introduce some of my interested students to apprenticeship programs that are paid positions (earn while you learn and reach journeyman status).

We DESPERATELY need skilled labor in this country, and most people are too afraid of seeming politically incorrect to discuss vocational education.

I guess all manual labor jobs will require MBA's in this utopia.