"But, as a society, we're still not really encouraging anyone to go into the trades."

I was born in 63 so I'm right there with you. In the area that I grew up in there was a trade school of sorts. Those that were interested would attend the HS a half a day for the basics and then be bussed up the street to the trade school for the last half of their day. When they graduated they graduated with a HS diploma and a certification for a trade.

That should be a country-wide option in every school district.