300UGUY
Super Member
I don't see the public schools getting the funding to run vocational programs at that level, and industry seems to want eveything paid for by taxpayers.
Craftsmen Who Work With Their Hands
- Thread starter TxDoc
- Start date
- Views: 6588
300UGUY
Super Member
As long as there are no barriers to entry ( some sort of license ) a lot of these jobs will never pay much.
ultrarunner
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 28,645
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
Those that can fix things will always have a leg up... those that can create have two legs up...
Part of the problem is "We" don't fix let alone build in most homes and you are right... there is no one left in the family or even neighbors to pass along the skills.
I've scored a lot of useful appliances that were tossed for something as simple as the remote no longer works and the reason turned out to be the batteries were in backwards.
I went the trade route in Tool and Die and Certified Welder and then on to get my engineering degree.
Outside the shop floor... tradespeople seldom get the recognition for their talents... at least having the degree took care of that.
I'm very proud of my Goddaughter... even at a young age of 5 she always wanted to fix things and asked for tools as presents... sadly, this is slowly diminishing as she gets older.
For her 8th birthday I put together an assortment of tools in a carry bag... good things like Klein Screwdrivers and such...
You should have seen the dozen or so little girls at her party... all gravitated to the tools and left the made in China plastic behind...
Biggest problem is her Dad is always using her tools and not putting them back!
A good plumber always has work as does a person that is handy and off-shoring ain't never going to happen here.
Part of the problem is "We" don't fix let alone build in most homes and you are right... there is no one left in the family or even neighbors to pass along the skills.
I've scored a lot of useful appliances that were tossed for something as simple as the remote no longer works and the reason turned out to be the batteries were in backwards.
I went the trade route in Tool and Die and Certified Welder and then on to get my engineering degree.
Outside the shop floor... tradespeople seldom get the recognition for their talents... at least having the degree took care of that.
I'm very proud of my Goddaughter... even at a young age of 5 she always wanted to fix things and asked for tools as presents... sadly, this is slowly diminishing as she gets older.
For her 8th birthday I put together an assortment of tools in a carry bag... good things like Klein Screwdrivers and such...
You should have seen the dozen or so little girls at her party... all gravitated to the tools and left the made in China plastic behind...
Biggest problem is her Dad is always using her tools and not putting them back!
A good plumber always has work as does a person that is handy and off-shoring ain't never going to happen here.
dave1949
Super Star Member
I'm not advocating the public schools running the program. I really don't believe public schools should be training camps for industry, it is unworkable. The lag-time between demand and supply is too long, it's too cumbersome with too many levels and fingers in the pie for the rate at which skill needs change these days.
Give kids the basic skills and let the people who need more pay for it. I think the result would be better, and in the end you pay school taxes (a lot for not much result currently IMO), or you pay more for products. You pay either way. I gotta believe you would pay less if more job training was accomplished by employers.
doxford jim
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2007
- Messages
- 1,006
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
- Tractor
- 1959 MF-65 sold, 2007 Jinma 554 diesel.
I trained as a marine engineer (4/12 years apprenticeship) and continued to go to sea for many years (eventually becoming C/E) - travelling the world. In between I attended university (didn't finish), emigrated. worked as millwright and as a stationary engineer and always found employment when needed.
Retired in 2005 and have since then rebuilt front of garage (better than previous), built large double carport, installed roofing over outside deck, rebuilt a couple of diesel engines etc. - along with many other jobs inside the house.
Really cannot complain as I have managed to do pretty much what I wanted to do. Didn't get rich but didn't find the need to - was just happy with what I was doing.
Having a grounding and experience in a trade, a person will always find work. Experience brings questions and answers to a lot of life's problems though we probably don't realize at the time. Being able to reason and work out problems is a big asset - most genuine trades people have a good record regarding this.
Unfortunately, too many people fall by the wayside as young adults and good intentions go out the window.
Retired in 2005 and have since then rebuilt front of garage (better than previous), built large double carport, installed roofing over outside deck, rebuilt a couple of diesel engines etc. - along with many other jobs inside the house.
Really cannot complain as I have managed to do pretty much what I wanted to do. Didn't get rich but didn't find the need to - was just happy with what I was doing.
Having a grounding and experience in a trade, a person will always find work. Experience brings questions and answers to a lot of life's problems though we probably don't realize at the time. Being able to reason and work out problems is a big asset - most genuine trades people have a good record regarding this.
Unfortunately, too many people fall by the wayside as young adults and good intentions go out the window.
apprenticeships are only as good as the company teaching them, I was lucky the location that my training was done was complete. The leaders put the education ahead of the daily production. I was not treated as a second class citizen by the experienced. All were more then willing to instruct and willing to share experience. As a result today I am still contacted about difficult situations. Unfortunately my trade was the design and building of injection molds. Now that most everything is made in China demand for my knowledge is lacking.
Most of what I do now is figure out how to fix the junk imported from China. Companies crying about the lack of skilled people but it is of their own making. As far as comparing a college education against practical training I would hire practical training any day over college.
Most of what I do now is figure out how to fix the junk imported from China. Companies crying about the lack of skilled people but it is of their own making. As far as comparing a college education against practical training I would hire practical training any day over college.
2LaneCruzer
Epic Contributor
We seem to be basically of one mind here; I think I see experience at work. There seems to be a University/academic mind set, especially for college educated individuals, which tends to look down on tradesmen, no matter how skilled, and this seems to filter down in our schools...not overtly, but because college educated teachers will naturally emphasize a college education. The false notion that you weren't smart unless you had a college education affected me to some degree, until experience taught me that was a bunch of hooey. I consider myself intelligent, but no matter how hard I try, I could never be a good mechanic. Partly because I am a bit inept at times, partly because it's a bit too physical for me and partly because because I'm not so inclined. We have a lot of good trade school in this state, which I'm sure turn out some great professionals. I would loved to have become skilled in auto restoration, but I chose otherwise.
I see a lot of "Old School' posters here, telling of their experiences from 40 years ago. Unfortunately "The times are changing"... past tense.
It's a lot less work with the same rewards to jump on the government dole.... so why not let somebody else put in the effort.
It's a lot less work with the same rewards to jump on the government dole.... so why not let somebody else put in the effort.
forgeblast
Elite Member
The school district I teach at just built a new "vo-tech" building, its a thing of beauty. We added 9 new programs and are looking to expand them. There is talk about letting middle school students take electives in the vo-tech area if there is room for them.
