Teaching, Trades & College Myths w/ Greg Svihlik :: Ep 267 Mostly Middle Tennessee Business PodcastPodcast Title: "Teaching, Trades & College Myths"What happens when a veteran Middle Tennessee teacher gets brutally honest about grades, test scores, college, and what kids actually need to succeed? In this episode of The Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, host Jim sits down with Williamson County educator Greg Svihlik for a raw, wide‑ranging conversation on modern education—and why it matters to parents, business owners, and the next generation of workers.Greg shares the seventh‑grade moment that changed his life, when a math teacher told him he’d be “flipping burgers” for not understanding algebra. That wound became a mission: never making a student feel small as a person, even while being brutally direct about effort, responsibility, and results. From there, Jim and Greg dig into the pendulum swings of education—test retakes, grade inflation, and the pressure to chase test scores while trying to build actual humans.Together, they unpack the stigma around blue‑collar work, the push that “everyone must go to college,” and why Greg believes we’re failing kids by not championing trades, vocational paths, and real‑world skills. They also explore how AI, social media, and declining trust in institutions are reshaping how students see work, authority, and truth—and why Greg calls his social studies class a “life skills class in disguise.”If you’re a parent wondering how to guide your kids, a business owner frustrated with the workforce pipeline, or a young person trying to figure out your path, this episode offers perspective, challenge, and a lot of heart. From propaganda and the American Revolution to college debt, trade school success stories, and parenting in the age of iPads, Greg and Jim cover the hard questions most people avoid.Episode Highlights:The brutal comment from a seventh‑grade teacher that pushed Greg into educationWhy Greg insists on seeing students as people first, kids second, students thirdHow test retakes, safety nets, and grade inflation changed student motivationGreg’s case for failing early and safely in middle school instead of in collegeWhy he tells parents that state standards are low on his priority listThe argument for trade schools, HVAC, mechanics, and blue‑collar pathsA former struggling student now flipping cars and making more than many gradsWhy Greg believes AI can’t replace teachers: the irreplaceable human elementTeacher burnout, stress, pay—and why 100+ kids’ lives are on your mind at nightHow social media and 24/7 news drive cynicism and distrust in the next generationTeaching propaganda through the American Revolution and modern media examplesGreg’s budgeting project using his real paycheck to teach money and lifeHow parents unintentionally rob kids of struggle by over‑protecting themThe difference between working hard and “working smart” as an excuse for lazinessWhy Greg calls his classroom a place to build confidence, communication, and grit_____________________________________________________________________****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:www.mmtbp.comwww.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcastwww.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvosTiktok: @jimmccarthyvos    __________________________________________________________Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:https://linktr.ee/mamwmw___________________________________________________________If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668 ___________________________________________________________***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip_________________________________________________________________The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out: Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org______________________________________________________________________Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co