My wife and I were just in Germany on a vacation and on one of the tours of the local culture, the very interesting tour director had a most intriguing description of their educational system. The students are evaluated after the 10th grade as to their potential to be able to use and productively receive a college education or have them take on a planned education path to take part in the skilled labor force. My son or daughter is not going to be a carpenter or a plumber.
The vast majority display a great work ethic and, if we are honest, a work ethic that been greatly diminished in a large portion of our most recent generation. By the way, education is free in Germany and the government pays the expense by all the skilled, employed taxpayers.