[TheForge] OT school waste

[Andrew Vida]

ries wrote:
> On Mar 25, 2011, at 11:31 AM, Jason Nass wrote:
> 
> Actually, I think it is just the schools that feel shop class is
> worthless...

Bingo.  That, and not college-track, which 20 years ago was like the 
black plague.  Now that most families cannot shell out $100K-$250K for 
bachelor's degrees, all of a sudden vocational training is looking not 
quite so uncool anymore in the eyes of parents and even some school 
administrators.

 > I know several schools around here don't have a shop program at
> all, and mostly seem to be the more affluent areas, while out in the sticks,
> most of them still do.  
> 
> Hell, they have to come up with the $$$ for the insane amount they overpay
> the superintendents and school boards around here from somewhere don't they.
> Guess they figure it best to cut the "worthless" electives for it.

Back in the early to mid 80s when I was teaching, superintendents in NYC 
made at least $120K and held dictatorial power over operations.  A 
superintendent could close a school at will and keep it that way for 
extended periods if he wanted to.  That is why whatever the Super 
wanted, he got.  In some of the schools the supers had shops any of us 
here would have died for - no joke - lathes, mills, drills, FORGES(!), 
presses, and so forth.  They had huge budgets and spent the money any 
way they pleased and were beyond any accounting.  They could tell the 
principal to go fuck himself (and I heard one say just that, in the hall 
way, in front of students and parents) and not have the least thought to 
consequences.  It was one hell of a racket.  Pretty well still is, too.