Our public school systems are not nor were they every intended to be a vocational training ground (although students are exposed to some very basic technical/technology classes if the the student elects) This why trade & technical schools exists after the kids get Reading, Writing ,Arithmetic, Science, Social Studies stuff down in 12 years of education (and they - meaning school systems, parents, etc - ain't doing too good of job at that these days).
Yes, physical science, chemistry is still taught in high school but metallurgy is taught in Colleges and in Technical schools.

There are forklift dealers that work with local vocational /technical schools and provide students with exposure to lift "mechanics" by having dealership personnel put on evening classes for the students - usually training personnel & of course, for pay. Maybe this might be up your alley & you could retire earlier than your current plan of "no hope for retirement".