Jim, Being one of the skilless who is now trying to catch up and learn a few things this topic really hits home. It is very true. Schools should be teaching more Basic skills - it is important to prepare kids for college - but it is also important to prepare kids to know how to do things. When I was in school we thought Woodshop and Metal shop was a joke - boy were we wrong! Had I taken those courses I would at least have had a head start on knowing how to do some things. Equally important is techinf kids something about personal finance and how money works. This of course isn't just a school issue - the folks that know should be passing these skills down. My father is a life ling carpenter - and a damn good one - I couldn't build a thing. He didn't have the patience to teach me - and to be fair I probably didn't have the patience to learn. Technology is great - but we rely on it far too much. I don't know the answrrs but I agree fully - skills, be they sewing, woodworking, auto body, carpentry, cooking, mechanics, etc. etc. etc. are very important and some of these things really are a "dying art" (or trade if you prefer). That is sad - the only cure I can see is to try to get some of that education for my own son (and learn some on my own even if it's a bit late to do so). OK, I'm done - great topic. -- Thanks, Jeff '85 GL (Gertie) '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor) '86 (We call this one Scrap) '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus |
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