[TheForge] Industrial arts (long and boring response)

[northwoods]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Brown" <quahog@tds.net>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: January 27, 2002 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Industrial arts (long and boring response)


>But the Technical Colleges and schools, at least here in
> Wisconsin where Tony Clark and I are located, are doing a booming business
> and are expanding by leaps and bounds.

Your not kidding there. $650 dollars of my property tax bill from 2001 went
to fund the recent expansion of technical schools in our area.

> The High Schools are still planting
> the kernels of interest and fostering such inclinations and the Technical
> Schools are doing polishing.

I would have to agree. One of the three different high schools I attended as
a youth had an absoutely outstanding industrial arts program. The teachers
name was Larry Lemay, a former sea-bee, and one hell of a good instructor.
As a somewhat (okay very) unruly youth, this fact was not lost on me even
then. I saw him on T.V. last fall being honored as teacher of the year by a
local broadcast station. Still going strong, and I'm sure not a single item
is out of place in his shop as it was when I attended. This particular high
school even had a full automotive (mechanical and body) shop, in addition to
the wood and metal curriculum.  It is no coincidence that these types of
classes are the favorites of young men. While much of what is taught in
school these days may be difficult for students to see the value of, not so
with Industrial or technological arts. Here is something they can relate to,
and apply immediatley in there everyday life.

> I've been in Freehold, NJ, and if that city was the brush that painted my
> view of the world ... well, then, I'd be dismal as well.  That may be the
> key to your jaundiced eye.  <friendly grin>

Got to agree with you there. Maybe another factor is that a lot of the youth
in this area are not "city" kids. Most have access to wood and metal working
equipment away from school, and are familiar with working with there hands
(and a lot more).
The factors that may be contributing to the situation Andy describes may be
based more on the fact that there is a whole new technological world
available for youths these days to get interested in and potentially find a
carreer in. The schools can't hardly turn a blind eye to this situation, as
that wouldn't be productive either.

T. Clark
Mountain, WI