Storm preparation: I don't get it.

[dave1949]

When I was in the 8th or 9th grade, don't remember for sure, all the boys were cycled through a home-ec course for six weeks or so.

Many of the vocational schools serve multiple school districts, and are often built on their own separate campus. Some vocational programs are partial school day schedules, and students have every opportunity to participate in college prep courses.

When vocational schools become viable, it often results in reduced funding for the traditional industrial arts classes. School boards are just spending their limited funds as efficiently as possible, and they tend to see too much overlap between vocational and industrial arts classes to want to fund both.

I don't think vocational schools now are the academic dead-end they once may have been. Many link into the area community college programs, for example.

Let's not ignore the various interests and abilities students bring to the classroom and the need to engage all students. It is not a plot designed to destroy our country.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

When I was in the 8th or 9th grade, don't remember for sure, all the boys were cycled through a home-ec course for six weeks or so.

Many of the vocational schools serve multiple school districts, and are often built on their own separate campus. Some vocational programs are partial school day schedules, and students have every opportunity to participate in college prep courses.

When vocational schools become viable, it often results in reduced funding for the traditional industrial arts classes. School boards are just spending their limited funds as efficiently as possible, and they tend to see too much overlap between vocational and industrial arts classes to want to fund both.

I don't think vocational schools now are the academic dead-end they once may have been. Many link into the area community college programs, for example.

Let's not ignore the various interests and abilities students bring to the classroom and the need to engage all students. It is not a plot designed to destroy our country.

This country needs more vocation trained hands on workers ,pipefitters,welders,cabinet makers ,mechanics ,etc etc etc by producing cubicle workers we have turned this country into a throw away society ,nothing gets restored or repaired anymore it's just throw it away and finance a new one how many actual mechanics are in your town and I'm not talking about dealership parts swappers ? These kids today wouldn't shovel the sidewalk if you paid them let alone have the ability to manage getting their own car out of a ditch , most have never even driven a rear wheel drive car made in this country

 

[jymbee]

This country needs more vocation trained hands on workers ,pipefitters,welders,cabinet makers ,mechanics ,etc etc etc

Absolutely-- well stated! I've been singing the same song for many years...

 

[dave1949]

This country needs more vocation trained hands on workers ,pipefitters,welders,cabinet makers ,mechanics ,etc etc etc by producing cubicle workers we have turned this country into a throw away society ,nothing gets restored or repaired anymore it's just throw it away and finance a new one how many actual mechanics are in your town and I'm not talking about dealership parts swappers ? These kids today wouldn't shovel the sidewalk if you paid them let alone have the ability to manage getting their own car out of a ditch , most have never even driven a rear wheel drive car made in this country

I don't disagree with your sentiment, but they (kids) have to face economic reality. They need the skills and knowledge that will earn a living and many repair businesses are not viable for that. I don't know how far I would have to go to find a shoe repair shop, a custom tailor, TV/electronic repair, etc. Very few can make a living doing those things that used to be common.

There are apprenticeships that go begging here because not enough young people are interested, or lack a good perspective on the potential of the skilled trades. I think we need to promote/educate kids on where and what good paying, steady jobs are. We also have to rethink the value that we place on skills of all kinds in this country.

I think there is a persistent slightly negative attitude about jobs (and those who fill them) that are hands-on type of work. Can't blame the younger generation for that. We have lost an appreciation for skilled craftsmanship. But that may be expected since many of the products we use and depend upon, are not things anyone can economically build one-offs no matter how skilled their hands are.

Automation and robotics are already making a measurable dent in employment numbers, it will likely continue in that direction. People are being played off against machines, and we all contribute to that by expecting cheap goods and services, then complain about tax dollars to support working families in poverty. Something has to give.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

I don't disagree with your sentiment, but they (kids) have to face economic reality. They need the skills and knowledge that will earn a living and many repair businesses are not viable for that. I don't know how far I would have to go to find a shoe repair shop, a custom tailor, TV/electronic repair, etc. Very few can make a living doing those things that used to be common.

There are apprenticeships that go begging here because not enough young people are interested, or lack a good perspective on the potential of the skilled trades. I think we need to promote/educate kids on where and what good paying, steady jobs are. We also have to rethink the value that we place on skills of all kinds in this country.

I think there is a persistent slightly negative attitude about jobs (and those who fill them) that are hands-on type of work. Can't blame the younger generation for that. We have lost an appreciation for skilled craftsmanship. But that may be expected since many of the products we use and depend upon, are not things anyone can economically build one-offs no matter how skilled their hands are.

Automation and robotics are already making a measurable dent in employment numbers, it will likely continue in that direction. People are being played off against machines, and we all contribute to that by expecting cheap goods and services, then complain about tax dollars to support working families in poverty. Something has to give.

The kids have to face economic reality ? give me a break ,They want to sit in a/c and tap on a computer , Did you eat today ? Thank a poor lowly farmer

 

[jerry56]

Remember ..the Weather channel is ratings driven.....the more dramatic they make it the more people tune in....the more money they make....with this last storm the National weather service was predicting 6-10 inches for NYC...the Weather channel said 2 feet..!!! I bet that drove the ratings thru the roof....nobody in NYC would have watched if they thought they were getting less than 10 inches...the weather channel even started naming the storms...it makes better drama...one last thing ..NBC now gets all of their weather products from TWC...ratings...and money...nothing more...

 

[dave1949]

The kids have to face economic reality ? give me a break ,They want to sit in a/c and tap on a computer , Did you eat today ? Thank a poor lowly farmer

Well, there are a lot farmers going out of business too, or supplementing farm income with outside work. That is reality. What is your point, that a kid should open a repair shop nobody will frequent? What economic sense is to be found in that? I think you are looking for argument :laughing:

 

[teejk]

I'll date myself and say that grades 7-9 used to have mandatory "teaser" classes in all the trades plus the academics. It was kind of like getting a "sampler" on a restaurant menu. Those days are gone I guess and somebody other than the student decides their career path. I think I opened this can of worms so I apologize but seems to me that a semester in teaching all kids some basics on living would not be unreasonable, would not cost much and might actually be a fun class to teach and participate in (if I can get it going locally I'll even volunteer my time). So I'll repeat the offer...let's open a forum with some things that might be on the lesson plan.

 

[charlz]

They want to sit in a/c and tap on a computer , Did you eat today ? Thank a poor lowly farmer

I hate to be the one to tell you this but 'sit in the a/c and tap on a computer' describes modern farming

 

[jymbee]

NBC now gets all of their weather products from TWC...ratings...and money...nothing more...

There's $$$ in weather for sure.

As a point of trivia, a group including NBC and Bain Capital purchased The Weather Channel some years ago...