The Apprentice's Toolbox

Sincere condolences, my friend.

cavelamb himself wrote:
Sincere condolences, my friend.

Agreed, and it's a shame many schools don't have shop class, that
parents don't have some practical skills to pass on etc. It's all "get a
higher education" and "go to college." Whatever happened to hands on in
childhood? My son and I used to drive my ex nuts because we'd get dirty
working on my car. He started very young playing with the hand tools.
I'm by no means an expert mechanic, but I can do most work on a car. My
son is the same way. The same with basic home repair. I'm afraid we are
becoming book smart and world dense.

Having said that, I do know people who are dangerous with anything
more complicated than a screw driver. Let them keep plumbers,
electricians, tow drivers etc employed.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"Dan" wrote

Agreed, and it's a shame many schools don't have shop class, that
parents don't have some practical skills to pass on etc.

Strangley, that fits with my story. I went to college and got a music
education degree. After three years, I quit and started doing home repair
and remodeling, full time. Where did I learn to do that? You guessed it;
mostly from dad, and then the rest was self taught. Then, I worked up to
having my own contracting company building houses. When the economy went
tits up about 15 years ago, I took a job teaching shop, but specifically
home construction. All still traces back to dad.

It's all "get a higher education" and "go to college."

All kids will not go to college. Shame, but some people can't understand
that.

Having said that, I do know people who are dangerous with anything more
complicated than a screw driver. Let them keep plumbers, electricians, tow
drivers etc employed.

Yep. Keep those kids that did not go to college employed!
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"Dan" wrote

Agreed, and it's a shame many schools don't have shop class, that
parents don't have some practical skills to pass on etc.

Strangley, that fits with my story. I went to college and got a music
education degree. After three years, I quit and started doing home repair
and remodeling, full time. Where did I learn to do that? You guessed it;
mostly from dad, and then the rest was self taught. Then, I worked up to
having my own contracting company building houses. When the economy went
tits up about 15 years ago, I took a job teaching shop, but specifically
home construction. All still traces back to dad.

It's all "get a higher education" and "go to college."

All kids will not go to college. Shame, but some people can't understand
that.

Having said that, I do know people who are dangerous with anything more
complicated than a screw driver. Let them keep plumbers, electricians, tow
drivers etc employed.

Yep. Keep those kids that did not go to college employed!

Lot to be said for trade schools. Pity is there don't seem to be many
at the high school level. Those who went to those seemed to have an
innate ability before attending and just needed topping off before
heading out into the real world.

Back in the 1980s the local votech here used to offer what they
called a "powder puff" automotive class to teach women basic care and
feeding of their cars. They had to rapidly change the name when they
realized a lot of men were taking it.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired