Need to Make some money with my Tractor.

[patrick_g]

Was this a German community? The Germans used to (may still, I don't know) take tests that determine if you will be a candidate for university or trade school. Once started down the test directed career path there was little opportunity for deviation.

Pat

 

[Dougster]

Was this a German community? The Germans used to (may still, I don't know) take tests that determine if you will be a candidate for university or trade school. Once started down the test directed career path there was little opporltunity for deviation.
Pat

Nope. Good old solid middle America... at least back then. Nobody even speaks English there now... but that's a whole 'nother story.

Dougster

 

[AlanB]

Was this a German community? The Germans used to (may still, I don't know) take tests that determine if you will be a candidate for university or trade school. Once started down the test directed career path there was littel opporltunity for deviation.

Pat

Actually, they still do, unfortunately it is in 5th grade.

VERY different system though.

And yes, to deviate, particularly up, is like pulling hen's teeth.

And you don't do ANYTHING that you do not have the paperwork for.

 

[davidseaquist]

I looked at my neighbors yard. Regular city lot.He wanted me to dig across his lot about 40 feet. I told him I would not be able to do it. there is an easement to a house behind him. I would have the chance to hit two water services, two gas lines [ utility owned ] two under ground electrical services [ utility company owned ] And two sewer lines, also underground phone and cable. I told him it would be better to add fill rather than take fill out to level his lot, too much liability. David

 

[sodamo]

I never took a single shop class (wood, auto, metal, etc.), no vo-ag or 4-H, no FFA, not even mechanical drawing (drafting), and no typing or home economics. What do I think I missed most in high school that would have been of benefit to me before retirement and now? YUP! Just about everything on the list above. Hardly a week goes by that I don't have an opportunity to use one of those areas of study.

Pat

Back in 1961, I was the only college prep freshman also taking shop - wood, metal, mechanical drawing. Unbelievable how during this past year while building my house I've had to call on some of those lessons. I think all students ought to be given some practical training.

David

 

[Dougster]

Back in 1961, I was the only college prep freshman also taking shop - wood, metal, mechanical drawing. Unbelievable how during this past year while building my house I've had to call on some of those lessons. I think all students ought to be given some practical training.
David

Ain't in the truth? For me, the one class I keep thinking about over and over again was jr. high school metal shop including welding. GOD how I wish I could remember those lessons now. I tried to get into a welding class here... at age 56-1/2... but the only schedule available was all wrong for me (I would have missed half the classes) and it was not cheap!

Dougster

 

[patrick_g]

SODAMO, Good for you. I envy your opportunity. Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to take both lines of study but would have loved to do so. In larger schools a teacher can teach maybe 5 sections a day or even have more than one teacher per subject and teach maybe 10 sections a day. Under those circumstances any given open time slot you have, say a study hall, you can sign up for a class.

There were 25 in my graduating class. A smaller school can't offer, say physics and chemistry, every year and teach them in alternate years. Students still have the opportunity to take both but if either is taught at the same time as say typing or drafting then you have a problem. The admin types tried to set up the schedule to serve the needs of the manual arts types as well as the college prep types but made it nearly impossible to be serious about getting all the needed classes in one track and dabble in classes of the other track, it just couldn't be done.

Even with todays modern marvels at our finger tips providing opportunitits for distance education via the web, the manual arts are not well served thereby as you need to have an on-site instructor and equipment as well as a student for a shop class.

davidseaquist, Discretion IS the better part of valor. Good on you. Don't let money attract you away from or a would be customer push you too far out of your "ZONE." Knowledge zone, comfort zone, experience zone... whatever. It is good to stretch the envelope and grow but you were smart to not run a few laps in his mine field. You mentioned about everything ordinarily encountered except ovehead wires to dodge. Cool your jets and look for jobs that make sense to a mere mortal.

Pat

 

[EddieWalker]

I took wood shop in the 8th grade, and that really has stuck with me over the years. The teacher started us out on drafting and showed how to draw out a plan, then build what we drew. The grade we received was based on how close to the plan the final project was, as well as overall finish. For me, it was something that I picked up really quickly and easily, but for others, they just never got it. I don't understand how that is, but toda I can look at a cabinet or a house, and draw it up in my mind in a few minutes. Then I can put it on paper and figure out all the details of how to attach each piece and in what order it has to go together.

This all goes back to that class in the 8th grade that I took. All my other shop classes and work experience has all related to that one class. Even today as a General Contractor, I still design and build things from what I learned back then.

I haven't thought about this before, but it's amazing at how important the 8the grade was in determining who and what I am today.

Eddie

 

[Dougster]

I haven't thought about this before, but it's amazing at how important the 8the grade was in determining who and what I am today.
Eddie

Funny how that works... but it is true in my case too. I can remember every course I took and all the teachers I had from jr. high school... but almost none from high school and only a few from college. Go figure.

Dougster

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Guys,
As David has stated this thread is turning out quite interesting ! I have really enjoyed reading everyones take on getting an education, college or otherwise, trade etc !

Doug I wish you all the best on your pursuit of making your business a success, I can see how difficult it can be by just reading through all the posts !

Im truly glad my Pop pointed me towards a trade when I was just shortly out of high school. I as others had really only one option as far as where I could attend schools. I went to high school with the intent of going to college, but I also did take mechanical drawing and woodshop as supplemental courses, not knowing at the time that I may very well use that knowledge down the road. I went to college for a year and really wasnt interested in what I was learning, elec engineering, but felt that working on mechanical things was more along the lines of interest. I managed to get an toolmaker apprenticeship and 35 years later still at it . I would really like to find an outside job for my last few years but I realize that a significant paycut would really hurt the wallet, so Im just kind of plugging along ! I really envy guys like Pat that have changed, and doing something they enjoy now, the excitement has worn off for me quite some time ago, but I dont have the nerve to walk away at this juncture in time to make such a major change in my life ! If nothing else I can enjoy reading about you guys that have changed lifestyles and are enjoying it !

Thanks for an interesting thread !