Probably only a few of us left.

magoo66

XS650 Junkie
Top Contributor
Messages
613
Reaction score
1,720
Points
143
Location
Amboy,IL
I knew I could paint & fab anything at all levels,it’s been my working career life.Fortunate I am and grateful. I used to watch my mom sew. I used to watch my dads plumber friends heat and form plastic just before it broke.My point;Who’s left other than Union trade schools to teach?Shop classes in schools are almost extinct.
 

Attachments

  • 552F1CFA-892C-4F42-B2F1-75BE4C801AF7.png
    552F1CFA-892C-4F42-B2F1-75BE4C801AF7.png
    1.6 MB · Views: 70
  • 9FA0D729-ED4A-44DB-AC44-EF45D08D4D3B.png
    9FA0D729-ED4A-44DB-AC44-EF45D08D4D3B.png
    1.5 MB · Views: 70
  • 91F89304-459B-4658-BFFE-0CD8A609A335.png
    91F89304-459B-4658-BFFE-0CD8A609A335.png
    3.2 MB · Views: 68
  • 4DB4B046-4FF1-482E-ADF2-16B1D1AD4E41.jpeg
    4DB4B046-4FF1-482E-ADF2-16B1D1AD4E41.jpeg
    327 KB · Views: 70
  • BC120DD4-3464-4828-9296-F46D5B0BFDB6.jpeg
    BC120DD4-3464-4828-9296-F46D5B0BFDB6.jpeg
    281.1 KB · Views: 71
  • 40E33D1B-D81A-4F56-B2CA-1910C21F21B4.png
    40E33D1B-D81A-4F56-B2CA-1910C21F21B4.png
    1.9 MB · Views: 72
  • D6E29689-D6ED-467C-B80E-2A1F72223C61.png
    D6E29689-D6ED-467C-B80E-2A1F72223C61.png
    1.7 MB · Views: 68
Fortunately, there are Vo-Tech schools and my reading indicates a measurable up-tick in kids choosing that vs. traditional college.

It is a shame high-school level training has all but disappeared, and I don't see that changing any time soon. They have too much invested in encouraging kids to go ass-over-teakettle into debt for a largely useless Liberal Arts degree.

I'm all in favor of a college level STEM education, but how many kids are prepared for and willing to work at that level?
 
Sad but true..HS Vocational subjects are non existant today..Back in the 1980s I taught Machinsts trade entry level job skills to vocationally bound Deaf highschool students...Some of those kids got better paying jobs than me or the other teachers had at the time...
 
In the early years of having a trade, I was secure in the knowledge that, should the SHTF big time, I could at least make and fix stuff and would probably be in demand for my services.
Looks like the eventual cloacal collision will happen when I'm too old to care or be able, for that matter.
Still, it was good while it lasted, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've ever actually paid someone to do any tech work for me.
 
I’m dairy farm raised, and not a well off one… we can do anything with nothing!

In all seriousness though, I learned to be a machinist, a welder etc all though college night courses

My family has a rule, that was a rule from my parents

We encourage you to get a degree , but you pick a trade first and get trained up on it first

My kids both under 10, love turning wrenches with me… but both want to be scientists:)
 
Here we have a vocational school don't know whats all offered
Truck driving for sure / carpententry
Labor shortage so local electricians /carpentry are taking aprenretaships (spell check)
 
I'm a scientist/engineer myself, but aways thought the push for everyone to go to college was a mistake. Around here high schools are slowly reintroducing shop classes. The community colleges also offer a decent selection of various trade related courses. It took awhile, but it seems like they figured out that college isn't for everyone and that we need skilled craftsman.
 
I’m dairy farm raised, and not a well off one… we can do anything with nothing!

<snip>

My kids both under 10, love turning wrenches with me… but both want to be scientists:)
That's my story too. Raised on a small (120 acres) farm in Michigan in the 50's and 60's. Dad never owned a welder or any machine tools, but pretty much everything else you either did it yourself or it didn't get done. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, mechanical...All of these things I got my basic training from Dad. I also learned not to be afraid to tackle something new and try to learn from every experience.

To this day I get "you should farm that out to the pros." Why? It'll probably take me way longer, and I may screw a few things up and have to do them over, but when I'm done, I'll have learned how to do it the next time. And I won't be out their $100/hr shop rate.
 
I'm a scientist/engineer myself, but aways thought the push for everyone to go to college was a mistake. Around here high schools are slowly reintroducing shop classes. The community colleges also offer a decent selection of various trade related courses. It took awhile, but it seems like they figured out that college isn't for everyone and that we need skilled craftsman.
There are a few maybe a lot of people with college degrees that can't find work at least at the pay level they demand :laugh:
 
I recently asked my youngest daughter (I have four of them), age 27, if she can sew. Her response was, "Excuse me! Have you met my mother?" My girls can do stuff. One of them makes repairs to her car. I think I had each of them put the spare on the car unaided with what was in the trunk.

When I was a kid going to school in the 70's I was steered away from "shop" classes, even though that is what I wanted to do. Those guiding me in the public school system made it impossible rather than help me. So, I was an academic student and performed poorly. I graduated with the coveted gold seal on my diploma that ended up worthless to me. I didn't need it to get into the Marine Corps. My college experience was technical and helped me land a job with a NASA contractor before I even graduated! I got a late start, but I'm still running on my technical abilities all these years later.

I spent three years teaching in a technical school. Most of the students seemed to have no clue of what they are getting into. They can't put down the smartphone long enough to tune into the real world. The schools take their money, and they end up in debt with nothing to show for it. I believe that if 12- and 13-year-old kids got shop and or home ec in school, they would at least have a clue.
 
There are a few maybe a lot of people with college degrees that can't find work at least at the pay level they demand :laugh:
Yes, depends on what you get a degree in. I was lucky in that I always knew I liked science. Got degrees in engineering geology, and had a very interesting and lucrative career. A friend's son got a political science degree from a very expensive university; two years after graduation and he's still working at Safeway. Got to find something you enjoy, but it has to be practical too.
 
I recently asked my youngest daughter (I have four of them), age 27, if she can sew. Her response was, "Excuse me! Have you met my mother?" My girls can do stuff. One of them makes repairs to her car. I think I had each of them put the spare on the car unaided with what was in the trunk.

When I was a kid going to school in the 70's I was steered away from "shop" classes, even though that is what I wanted to do. Those guiding me in the public school system made it impossible rather than help me. So, I was an academic student and performed poorly. I graduated with the coveted gold seal on my diploma that ended up worthless to me. I didn't need it to get into the Marine Corps. My college experience was technical and helped me land a job with a NASA contractor before I even graduated! I got a late start, but I'm still running on my technical abilities all these years later.

I spent three years teaching in a technical school. Most of the students seemed to have no clue of what they are getting into. They can't put down the smartphone long enough to tune into the real world. The schools take their money, and they end up in debt with nothing to show for it. I believe that if 12- and 13-year-old kids got shop and or home ec in school, they would at least have a clue.
:agree:
 
I think I might like to teach again when I'm really retired and don't need any money. It only takes a couple of engaged students to make it a joy. Just teaching young people to safety wire bolts is fun for me.
I've taught in three venues:

I was a Class "C" electronics school instructor for 4 years in the Navy. Motivation not really an issue there, and on the rare occasion that it started to be, a little Come to Jesus with The Chief fixed it.

I was a Maine Fire Training and Education instructor for several years. Again, motivation not really an issue except for the the completely redundant annual refresher training on PPE. We could all do the entire syllabus from memory and stirring up any enthusiasm was somewhere between difficult and impossible.

I taught several Adult Ed classes on a variety of subjects. That was probably the most fun because everybody was there because they wanted to learn about something new to them.

I could never work with school-age kids tho. I worked as the IT support guy for the local school system for 7 years. I covered K-12 classrooms in 4 grade schools and a high school. What I saw there was that 90% of the kids had no respect, no interest, no self-discipline and no motivation. I had all I could do to keep myself from bitch-slapping a few of them, which is why I quit and took a job at half the pay.
 
I recently asked my youngest daughter (I have four of them), age 27, if she can sew. Her response was, "Excuse me! Have you met my mother?" My girls can do stuff. One of them makes repairs to her car. I think I had each of them put the spare on the car unaided with what was in the trunk.

When I was a kid going to school in the 70's I was steered away from "shop" classes, even though that is what I wanted to do. Those guiding me in the public school system made it impossible rather than help me. So, I was an academic student and performed poorly. I graduated with the coveted gold seal on my diploma that ended up worthless to me. I didn't need it to get into the Marine Corps. My college experience was technical and helped me land a job with a NASA contractor before I even graduated! I got a late start, but I'm still running on my technical abilities all these years later.

I spent three years teaching in a technical school. Most of the students seemed to have no clue of what they are getting into. They can't put down the smartphone long enough to tune into the real world. The schools take their money, and they end up in debt with nothing to show for it. I believe that if 12- and 13-year-old kids got shop and or home ec in school, they would at least have a clue.
Home Ec and Business Math (running a household budget) should be required for graduation. I've met far too many young adults that do not even have basic survival skills.
 
Yes, depends on what you get a degree in. I was lucky in that I always knew I liked science. Got degrees in engineering geology, and had a very interesting and lucrative career. A friend's son got a political science degree from a very expensive university; two years after graduation and he's still working at Safeway. Got to find something you enjoy, but it has to be practical too.
Spot on. My granddaughter is becoming a teacher, as she loves children, my college freshman grandson doesn't know yet but is leaning towards becoming a game warden, as he loves the outdoors. Both pay a livable wage. Both of them know how to cook, clean and manage money BTW.
 
In the Air Force I spent 4yrs as the Squadron Motorcycle Safety Officer/Instructor. Like DE says, no motivation problems there. Was actually quiet enjoyable. Got to spend time on the bike and get paid for it.

Spent 15yrs teaching aircraft maintenance. Like Marty says above, the fickleness of youth and cell phones tended to be a problem. All things considered though, I enjoyed it. I'd do it again in heartbeat.
 
Back
Top