Losing skills in America

[Delawhere Jack]

I had the pleasure of working with a couple teenagers last year on a milling job. At least one if not both of them were home schooled. The older one, 16, was the son of a farmer, the younger, 14, came from a family of electrical contractors.

Both of them could read fractions on a tape measure, ask intelligent questions about the mill, warm me before I sawed the log clamp  : and work consistently without staring at their "smart" phones. We were able to have intelligent conversation when we stopped for lunch, and they out worked virtually all of the adult men that I've had work with me on milling jobs. They didn't break their backs, they worked steady and smart.

I can assure you that they did not develop these skills-aptitudes in a public school.

[drobertson]

I know from my wife who has taught for 25 years, early elementary, and from my experiences in life, the will to learn and ability to teach those that want to learn are key. I believe it really starts at home, and grows from experiences from outside sources with the base and resources to expand.  Trades are essential in our day and time as they have been from the beginning of time.  The emphasis just needs to be made more  on the benefits, As well as finding the aptitude of each student for the given field.  Funding has and will always be an issue within the school districts in many locals in smaller areas, as will finding the right mentors(teachers) in the given fields.  The fact is that yes we are as a country losing skills, but all is not lost, there are lots of nocks and crannies where some great talent still thrive.

[Just Me]

The focus of education has changed to college prep.  Not everyone wants, needs, should go on to college from high school.  Society needs tradesman and the trades pay very well.  Better than a bachelors degree in many instances.

They don't pay as good as they used to. I have been building pretty much my whole life, and I have not been able to raise my rates to keep pace with inflation. I have raised my site rate $2 since 1992, but the cost of everything I have to by has gone up a lot more, and government mandated costs have made it impossible to make money on employees on a small scale. Under the radar scabs are cutting my throat more and more, to the point where I wonder why I play by the rules.

If I had a son, and I don't, three daughters, I would try to get him into something else. I would want him to know what I know, but to make a living at something else. Our area has never really recovered, and Bay Harbor brought in so many contractors that stayed even after Bay Harbor slowed down. People are getting ten bids on houses, and if you do the quality of work I am known for you are never going to be low bidder. I am surviving on old customers that know quality, something that younger buyers do not seem to know or care about. That and the younger set do not seem to want us old guys.

I'm still working every day, by myself these days, but the money just does not go as far as it used to.

I agree however that a firm understanding of how things are done is important no matter what you do for a living. I made my daughters take an automotive course so they would not be so easily taken for example, something they thank me for occasionally when they run into a shyster mechanic. Shop classes help anyone take care of their home, a good thing.

I don't have the answers, just a lot of questions. I wonder where we are going some times.

Larry

[easymoney]

someone mentioned that schools are no longer teaching cursive writing. i had heard about that. also that they are quitting teaching history. i feel both of those ideas ridiculous. they think that we will always be able to depend on our computers and electronic gadgets. what will they do if their computer and smart phone quits? also if i can believe what the net is saying about how common core is teaching math it is unbelievable how complicated it is to add and subtract with a pencil and paper.

[edkemper]

What we need is a few more MBA types that have never been in the system before running our education system along with a bunch more education budget cuts. Remember, the rich already have theirs. Let the rest of us pay through the nose for what they got for free.

Here we speak of shop classes not being funded while many of the schools have to have their teachers pay for things like copy paper (so the teachers can copy book because the school can't afford class books) and there are no computers for the students.

Back when we all went to the same schools (well except for those with dark skin) we all benefited by the total. We all had basically everything we needed, including shop classes. Now days, we have some school with virtually everything modern technology has to offer and many schools have absolutely nothing because they in poor areas.

Now we have almost 100% millionaires in higher elected offices taking care of their friends and work mates instead of taking care of all of us the same. They have no problem passing bills that give millions to contractors and administration but little to classes or teachers.

The biggest downturn for most of us has been since the 80's when privatizing just about everything became the goal.

I still have my original hospital bill from my birth with a couple days stay. $101.24. Just got the bills from my wife's 10 minute carpel tunnel surgery. Tipping in at about $3000. She was in the facility for less than 2 hours. When I was born, it was in a government owned hospital. My wife's present work was in the all to well known private medical facility.

Bottom line, we need many more tax breaks for the richest individuals and corporations in our country so they can enjoy the profits they make overseas that they don't have to pay U.S. Taxes on.

I got a great education in public schools growing up. Now I can't find many benefits we enjoyed growing up in the present education system. I grew up with a growing middle class, now, there is no middle class. However now we do have mandatory testing.

Sorry for the rant. I have a daughter in a University. I got out of college with a doctorate degree and had $600 in student loans. My daughter is likely to end up with student debt that overshadows my entire college costs. That does not include what we are paying.

My personal opinion is: Fire the entire education administration above campus level, divide the entire education budget equally between all schools and give it directly to the individual campuses. We could cut that budget in half and still have everything we needed in the schools to give a quality and meaningful education to all.

[timberlinetree]

If it wasn't for shop class I would have dropped out. I learned a lot!

[r.man]

Apprentices are only lowly paid when you compare them to a full tradesman. 50 percent to start and then a 10 percent increase at certain plateaus. Compared to paying for your education they get a great wage.

[Larry]

I follow a blog by neighbor, woodworker, shop teacher, and nationally known box maker Doug Stowe.  If your interested in the state of our educational system it is an excellent read.  He normally posts something new everyday.

Wisdom Of The Hands 

The title says it all.

[Howdy]

Larry, thank you for the information about Doug Stowe.  I have added his site to my list of good reads.  Seeing his skill at box making is added bonus.
Howdy