Guest Post by The Lonely Libertarian
If you’re forced to pay school taxes, then you should have a voice in what programs are offered. My old high school started phasing out vocational programs in the mid-90s and was very proud of being named one of Texas’ premier college prep schools. The problem was, in the following decade, they saw a rapid increase in drop-outs. They were shocked, SHOCKED, and immediately launched a committee to study the issue. One of my classmates, Gary Crabtree owner and master mechanic of Crabtree Automotive, was included as he was considered a successful businessman and graduate. Nothing was mentioned about the fact that he spends his time, under hoods and on creepers, covered in grease fixing the cars of bankers, doctors and lawyers. He was a “businessman”.
In their first committee meeting, Gary brought up the issue that not all students were cut out for college, their interests and aptitudes were in the vocational arts which the school district decided to ax due to “budget” and “lack of interest”. He pointed out that forcing a teenager who wanted to work on HVAC unit to study Shakespeare and calculus was like making a fish climb a tree because that’s evolution. Around 2009, vocational programs started making a comeback in the local schools. Programs were designed in partnership with local community college to offer dual enrollment for not only academic classes, but also vocational programs. Now you can graduate high school with most of the work done for a CNA, paramedic/EMT, plumber’s apprentice, automotive, diesel, etc. Enrollment and matriculation is back up. Success is about more than GPAs and how many students get accepted to tier 1 colleges. It’s about preparing ALL students for life, regardless of the path they choose.
I wish I had some of those skills. And I am a Doctor. I fix people (sometimes), but I have to hire someone to fix things. I wish I had the skills and the tools to tinker. I had a friend back when I lived in Nevada who was a dentist, but he had a farm up in Utah, that he worked himself and he rebuilt car engines and restored old classic cars as a hobby. I wish I had a dad (grew up without one) who taught me how to us tools like the gruff old Clint Eastwood character in Gran Torino did for that neighborhood kid. I love that movie.
Agree 110%. Working with one’s hands is perhaps THE most rewarding work ever. A whole lot of societal ills could be cured if kids were exposed to and experienced vo-tech early on (middle school when I was growing up).
Amidst much protesting from family and friends, I took my (very bright) son out of school because it was all academics and nothing hands-on (very little PE or recess either), and he was completely miserable. He’s been very happily working at all sorts of trades and physically active work ever since, and getting paid for it. It has kept him out of trouble too.
Axel, You CAN teach yourself to tinker and fix things. I wouldn’t start with building a house from scratch, but you could work on small projects such as repairing a running toilet or putting up a shelf.
I’m female, almost 60, and neither of my parents were tinkerers. I guess I was just born liking to fix things and work with my hands. I have a degree, but sitting at a desk is not for me. Even when I had a supervisory role, I was always out working with my staff. My very girly daughters laugh at me because I can spend hours in a hardware store, while they love to shop for clothes (ugh!).
Over the years, I’ve learned to do many, many things by watching others work, and asking questions, and then trying it myself (I’ve learned my limits too). The internet is full of step-by-step DIY articles and videos. You can pick up inexpensive tools at garage sales, flea markets, and pawn shops. I know a couple of people who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and learned enough to completely rehab their own house.
Try it…very rewarding!
“If you’re forced to pay school taxes, then you should have a voice in what programs are offered. ”
Agree, but “should have” does not mean “do have”.
My experience in trying to influence public school systems is that they tend to run themselves as they want to with no input from outside wanted (or even permitted for the most part).
Hey Dr. Axel …Start with something easy…A few simple tools…I have a saying about being handy for the young guys…those that look into my Garage & workshop..Toolboxes…Tools Begot Tools …I think if it was not for my mooching friends & relatives; I would have 3 of every tool in the world..Oh Yeah & I can usually be heard complaining..I know I own 2 of those…Grr Grrr Where is it ?? ….Keep it simple, try Fly Tying If you trout Fish…Make a knife from recycled stuff laying around..Rewire a lamp…fix a dripping sink..Call me if you are in the NE.. I can send you something to putter with..Mike In Ct
Although I never knew it, I was lucky to grow up rather poor. We had enough of the basics but it didn’t leave much for extras so dad wad always repairing everything from toys to kitchen appliances and vehicles. He was always building things too. In retrospect he did most of it with a rather simple collection of tools. To this day, most of my favorite gifts received over the years were built by my dad and mom. I still have an emergency “buddy stove” made from two tin cans, cardboard and paraffin wax in my day pack that my mom helped me build in 1977.
My two brothers and I spent every minute we could with him and he taught us almost by osmosis to do the same things. In HS I took wood shop, metal shop, electronics, auto shop and small engine repair. I excelled in each because I was pretty familiar with it all long before high school.
I still build and repairing things all the time even though I can afford to buy new instead. I have an awesome set of tools too! Never buy cheap tools. Good ones are always worth the money!
Axel, just get started by taking things apart to see how they work. Say your blender or toaster dies…..make sure they are unplugged, spread an old towel on a table or bench and then start taking the object apart laying out parts as they come off. Make drawings or take pictures if needed. Over time you’ll notice that many things are assembled in the same manner. Many times you’ll be able to determine what is wrong and with an appropriate collection of “stuff” and tools you can repair the object. Nowadays many things are built so cheaply that it’s not worth messing with but simply taking them apart will teach you a lot. Besides, you have nothing to lose but a little time because the thing is already broke.
I’d advise anyone to buy older appliances and “stuff”. Things like mixers and toasters, were just as good 50 years ago as they are today (better actually) and they were designed to be repaired rather than thrown out. Buying older stuff can likely last your entire lifetime. Look for old surplus stores, pawn shops and appliance repair shops for such things. I still find new, old stock in original boxes from time to time in such places.
Creating and fixing is very natural.
Back in the day, you didn’t need a college degree to establish yourself in the middle class. While I attended 5 different colleges between 1958 and 1983 I didn’t get a degree until I was 43 years old. After I got the paper, worlds of new opportunities opened up – which didn’t pay a whole lot more money but boosted me into management – which I’m not so sure was a good deal!.
But then, that was a different world back then with productive jobs available in the USA and all you had to do was be willing to move to where the work was. We moved – on average – every 2 1/2 years and my daughters graduated from Kwajalein High School in the Marshall Islands. I went where the work was and only had to fill out one job application in my working career. After the first job, people would call me.
Now, not so much al all. The productive jobs are all out of country and all we have left is selling burgers to each other at minimum (or less) wage. Globalization has destroyed the country but the two 2% is doing great!
If I was starting over, I honestly have no idea what I’d go to college to accomplish, considering that completing high school these days prepares one for collecting welfare and mining food banks. All I’d consider is a BA in business so I could prepared to be self employed and then try and figure out what I could do that would be in demand in today’s consumer world (maybe like HSF – he’s got the right idea!)..
But somehow, I do not think the “consumer world” will last very long as a viable economic system and when it fails, there is nothing below it to catch the hundreds of millions of helpless human beings now dwelling in this country. It will end in a fast whimper followed by a bang.
MA
Wifey has old 1960’s vintage Sunbeam hand mixer she inherited from her mother. Last month it quit…no problem, just dismantled it and re soldered some connections. Voila, like new. Wifey, cagey as she is, found a like new spare on eBay…we try to keep at least 2 of everything that works. I have a 1980 Sears shop vac, air compressor, air tools, and a B&D chainsaw that still work…just a little PM keeps them going. Just saying…a little elbow grease, some tools, and spit can work wonders.