Why Beauty School Funding is Bad News For Beauty Salons.
Schools Win Vote For More Funding
I never understood the notion that when beauty schools received federal funding it was good for salons. I never understood the salons going to capitol hill giving the legislators manicures and facials so they would look favorably on the schools when it came to refunding the schools.
One of my colleagues called to inform me to watch cspan channel because the debate was going to proceed on the "Gainful Employment Bill" I happen to know a little about school funding, I waged a campaign against school funding in the late 80's when schools were cranking out students at a rapid pace. More students than the industry could possibly absorb. It is worse now, much worse. At that time the Office of Post Secondary Education(OPE) stated, " Having an oversupply of workers will lower the salary levels, reduce demand for training and will drive down the price of services and the consumers will benefit" They also stated we have an oversupply of one million cosmetologists and 200,000 being enrolled annually. Congress responded by increasing funding for vocational training from 1.6 billion to 6 billion.
So when the House of Representatives voted to continue funding for schools I was shocked. Shocked because the Congress is supposed to be saving money. Listening to the debates it was clear the representatives did not have a clue how their votes would effect the beauty industry.
We have a oversupply of workers.
Just as was stated by the OPE the number of workers has increased fourfold since 1993. The more you have of something the less value it has. If the state of California anticipates an increase of 1,500 cosmetologists by 2018, then why do they license 35,000 graduates per year. That's more than a 25 year supply. The beauty industry is a very portable industry. pair if scissors, blow dryer and a few supplies and you're in business. We are running out of clients
Gainful employment act hurts minorities.
The best thing they could have done for minorities is pass the bill. The people who get hurt the most are the minorities. The recruiters laugh at them as they sign them up for a $20,000 loan, knowing they will never get a job. They will say anything to prospective student to get them to sign on the dotted line.
Tution money is not being spent to educate
The amount of money being made by schools is obscene. Millions and millions of dollars are being used to purchase real estate and build mansions. A single school can generate millions of dollars a year. You can only imagine the income generated by schools with multiple locations. If beauty school graduates fail to acquire the necessary education to become productive, the The task falls on the salon. Students are not taught haircolor. Its difficult, with 60 different haircolor manufactures teaching color is expensive and not required by the state, so it is not taught. NOTICE to schools: the ABCH curriculum is generic and can be learned on line. Go to www.haircolorist.com
Federal funding attracts the wrong type of students
Once a school receives Federal funding they must accept everyone that wants to attend that school Many students would prefer not be there. This means parolees, welfare recipients and the Jerry Springer audience. Why do we have to enroll individuals who do nothing but inhibit the learning experience for those who want to learn.