"I remember one of the principals I worked for saying ¡°those who can do, and those who can¡¯t take shop.¡± He also sent his lots of his personal items down to us for repairs."
I can't help but laugh.? When I went to college, during orientation while parents were still around, the dean gave a little presentation.??
During part of it, he said "Those who can do, do.? Those who can't do, teach.? Those who can't teach become administrators".? My Dad thought that was hilarious (I was the first in my family to go to college)
In retrospect, I'm thinking the Dean had more wisdom than the Principal.
Another education story I have involves my Mom.? She insisted I take typing as she was a receptionist/typist and was sure it would make me more proficient in college typing papers.
Few years after I graduated, she ended up being on school admin staff and they were cancelling the typing classes.? The head science teacher said that typing didn't make sense to learn, as we'd be talking to computers soon enough that typing will be obsolete.? Mom disagreed, but had no power to do anything about it.??
This was in the late 80s.? I graduated from college in 1990 and went right into IT.? Ironically, I never had to write a paper in college, but I can sure out-type most of my IT colleagues, both in speed and accuracy, which has been immeasurably useful and continues to be.
I feel sorry for the kids educated in the years since who never learned to type because some high school science teacher couldn't predict the future very well.
On Tuesday, January 16th, 2024 at 3:33 PM, Thomas Key <takey89@...> wrote:
I was a HS shop teacher from 1971-2008, in drafting, woodworking, plastics technology and a little metals. At my last school we taught plastics, wood, graphics, drafting, electronics, metals, aeronautics and auto. Our department had 12 full time teachers and all our classes (72 classes each day) were filled.
In the late 80¡¯s early 90¡¯s we got a new superintendent who decided every student needed a college education, which meant voc ed needed to go. At the same time teacher training programs for industrial studies were closed which excelled the demise of shop classes.
I have a good friend, much younger than me, who is very involved in AI and contends it will eliminate a HUGE number of computer science jobs. However, those with ¡°hands on¡± skills will be in high demand.
Hopefully school districts will be willing to rebuild their vocational skills programs and be able to find qualified instructors teach them.
Side note¡one of my sons who lived for metal shop in HS went to Cal Poly SLO and earned a degree in international business. He hated working in an office so found a job building metal plating labs, then moved on to construction. Almost ten years later he decided to go back to school and earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering. After graduation he once again ended up in a cubical crunching numbers on designs for space stuff. Once again it was not his cup of tea. But all has turned out well and he now has a job that he describes as ¡°HS metal shop on steroids¡±. He designs and fabricates specializes instruments for companies like Lawrence Livermore Labs. He uses lathes, mills, grinders, welders, etc and is in 7th heaven.
I remember one of the principals I worked for saying ¡°those who can do, and those who can¡¯t take shop.¡± He also sent his lots of his personal items down to us for repairs.
Thanks for reading.
Tom
I think it would be good for the high school systems to reinstate a modern version of "metal shop" and "wood Shop" back into their curriculums. There are very few trade schools left in the country, so college dropouts have nothing to fall back on, and if they are lucky enough to find a job, they have to trained there. All kids cannot be employed in computer science, and there is a definite need for skilled operators in todays manufacturing world.
Just my humble opinion,
ralphie
chrisser