[TheForge] Industrial arts (long and boring response)

[Jeff Harding]

I know this is not lost on this group, BUT...The same group of
"intellectuals" that are doing a fine job of destroying "practical
education", are the same group that thinks teachers should make more
money than a good body man or carpenter....go figure.  Also the same
group that whines about paying a mechanic or furnace repair man.  Some
justice there I suppose.  :o)

   However... No one here is proposing that schools stop teaching new
technologies, just stop throwing away the ones still in use.  Why does
it have to be either or?  They certainly haven't stopped raising my
property taxes, they can afford both.  This school system is building
"sports facilities", much more important than academics, or practical
technology.

   Jeff   ><>


> 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
>
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