Shop Class as Soulcraft

[SlashWylde]

I came accross this article today whilst browsing the web.

It struck a chord with me as it echoes my own thoughts and concerns (albeit more eloquently than I would have written) on the shift in modern thinking and practice away from valuing a practical knowledge base to emphasising academic, intellectual and theoretical pursuit alone. The so called 'Knowledge Economy'.

This is of particular concern to me personally as the structure of my electronics and software degree course is changing dramatically to allow fewer class hours. The net result being that some topics and labs are having to be cut from the course, and those labs we do are simulated on a computer. Compare this with the NZCE I did 10 years ago where almost all our labs were in the laboratory with components, high voltage, bits of wire and powerful motors etc

Modern folk don't tend to repair things when they are broken, or make things themselves as the perception/reality is that it is cheaper, quicker and easier to simply buy a new one. Sewing, darning, baking, woodwork etc are becoming rarities in the modern home.

Interestingly for us, the author of the article writes from the perspective of a motorcycle mechanic, and he reminds me of Robert Pirsig's seminal book 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'.

Enjoy...

[James Deuce]

The Knowledge economy does NOT in any way encourage intellectual pursuits. The Knowledge economy has largely stripped Universities of pure theoretical scientists, both social and physical.

The Knowledge economy is about pumping out B.Com and LLB grads. Nothing else.

[Swoop]

People wonder why the price of a plumber or carpenter is getting higher. Schools are pushing the academic path, which is fine for some students, but others would be perfectly suited to a more hands-on career. Schools can no longer offer this unless it is a very unique one. One or two local schools are investing in their technology blocks, but they require teachers with skills in those areas and not academics who are happy to use bits of string and lumps of clay to teach "technology".

Australia is going full circle with this, and is having to re-establish technical schools where area high schools can send their students to learn in a specific topic area. Undoubtably some of the "rough diamonds" will be sent there, but usually these people can shine in that environment.

We have seen the results of a system that pushes out masses of heavily qualified people for a small amount of jobs...
"Would you like fries with that?"

[nudemetalz]

Well as many will know, I've started my own business and craft aluminium furnishings by hand (and machines as well). I get a lot of responses like "you really made that??". "Well why not?"

You're right though, the DIY attitude is fast disappearing and it's such a shame.

[Flyingpony]

You're right though, the DIY attitude is fast disappearing and it's such a shame.

Especially for simple stuff like changing engine oil.

Eventually I've got a project that'll stretch my DIY ability - fixing a chassis which requires rusted sections to be removed and reconstructured. Been quoted $1000-1200 for a shop to fix it or I could DIY for slightly less. Would be heaps less if I owned the required equipment and had the metal work skills this job would require.

To DIY, I'll need to buy an arc welder $200-300, buy sheet metal $???, buy other tools I don't have $???, learn to weld $???, and finally research how to chop and rebuild the chassis to WOF standard. Boy have I bitten a lot off. God only knows how much time I'll need to invest to figure out what to do and how to do it, and finally to actually do it. Would be much easier just to pay the shop and they'll have it ready the following day, but where's the fun in that!?

[HenryDorsetCase]

The Knowledge economy does NOT in any way encourage intellectual pursuits. The Knowledge economy has largely stripped Universities of pure theoretical scientists, both social and physical.

The Knowledge economy is about pumping out B.Com and LLB grads. Nothing else.

absolutely right. and universities cull their "arts" papers like philosophy and languages etc in the name of usefulness: ppl at Uni now are so focused on getting the bit of paper and the "great" career....its really sad.

Of course they're fucked if their fridge breaks down, or their dunny won't flush.

[HenryDorsetCase]

One of the reasons I really like Monster Garage (and to a lesser extent American Chopper): people doing stuff. I actually really admire Jesse James: rough start, but hard work pays off. (OK theres a lot of spin and bullshit, but I think Jesse is the real deal).

also he does donuts in his matt black Ferrari, and is married to Sandy Bullock: how did he end up living my life????

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Interestingly for us, the author of the article writes from the perspective of a motorcycle mechanic, and he reminds me of Robert Pirsig's seminal book 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'.

Enjoy...[/QUOTE]

I read that book when I was 20 - and thought it was great - always stuck in my mind!! I must find a copy and read it again!

[inlinefour]

Well as many will know, I've started my own business and craft aluminium furnishings by hand (and machines as well). I get a lot of responses like "you really made that??". "Well why not?"

You're right though, the DIY attitude is fast disappearing and it's such a shame.

Kiwi ingenuity (sp) has allready died in AKL...

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

People wonder why the price of a plumber or carpenter is getting higher. Schools are pushing the academic path, which is fine for some students, but others would be perfectly suited to a more hands-on career. Schools can no longer offer this unless it is a very unique one. One or two local schools are investing in their technology blocks, but they require teachers with skills in those areas and not academics who are happy to use bits of string and lumps of clay to teach "technology".

Australia is going full circle with this, and is having to re-establish technical schools where area high schools can send their students to learn in a specific topic area. Undoubtably some of the "rough diamonds" will be sent there, but usually these people can shine in that environment.

We have seen the results of a system that pushes out masses of heavily qualified people for a small amount of jobs...
"Would you like fries with that?"

Since when have schools ever provided subjects for the trades?? actually for specific careers? My limited belief is that schools teach you basics of reading, writing, and learning things by memory, and subjects like science taught me how to light a bunsen burner and make other pretty fires!! Biology was always trying to decipher that the gorgeous looking teacher had 6 kids!!! and he was still young (bout 30!!)

But then I went to an all girls catholic private school (NOT BY CHOICE I can tell you). So with that and my father's bleating - our role was to breed - well I stuffed up there big time!!! they never told me what I could do if I couldn't breed - guess I still searching YEAH RIGHT. Got a life instead!! School never prepared me for the real world.

The shortage of tradesman was predicted at least a decade ago when they fiddled around with the apprenticeship programs - and now they are getting all arty farty where tradesmen have to have admin/bus degrees as well.

There are people that are not academic but are the best tradesmen out.
One husband (hehe sounds great) stood on the side of the road, while I changed the tyre on the car (he was academic kind - in fact he read a book while waiting for me to finish). I was the one that made sure the bike had oil and maintained it mechanically.
God I'm on overtime 5.03pm = stop waffling now!!! lol

[Swoop]

Since when have schools ever provided subjects for the trades?? actually for specific careers?

Welll.... Back in the old days, intermediate schools had metalwork, woodwork, sewing and cooking. The entire form-1 school rotated through those classes like it or not.
Colleges offered metalwork, woodwork, technical drawing, etc.

I have had schoolkids who have spent an entire semester carving a lump of wood down to a pile of shavings. More like a course on advanced vandalism really...

The trades were f*cked over in the '90s in 2 ways. First, most of them did away with apprenticeships (worked fine for over 200 years - but politicians knew best...) but luckily some did not!
Secondly we were suckered into "Unit Standards". A way of breaking everything down into easily digested areas of learning that fails to interlink with others and also provides no incentive to strive for better quality and better results. A "pass" is all that is required... strangely similar to higher qualifications where everyone is finding out what the minimum is to pass and just getting that. Hooray - you have a bare minimum pass, but you are now a qualified academic with a MA... Here's your spatula - strive to be "employee of the month" and your picture will be on the wall...

I prefer to deal with down to earth folks. The carpenter with the biggest buttcrack, the mechanic with the greasiest overalls and the down-to-earth bastards driving a ute full of tools!

Schools provided the flow of people to these trades.

[Colapop]

I agree that the practical people are fewer than they once were but it is heartening to see that there are events like the Red Bull Trolley GP that still bring out the inventive among us.

[sAsLEX]

I agree that the practical people are fewer than they once were but it is heartening to see that there are events like the Red Bull Trolley GP that still bring out the inventive among us.

Access to tools and thing like OSH make some stuff difficult!

Making a little project at the mo and was going to turn it all up myself but getting access to the gear is a pain in the arse, plus I have little experiance as I couldnt take metal work etc at school as that would of stopped other more important classes such as two math, three sciences etc that had to be taken through to get the quals needed to get in to uni etc

So using CAD skills learnt at uni/self taught to put ideas to paper and with a little/lot of help from cadanimal gettin those in the know to do it.

[Waylander]

Should get my mom into this thread. She's got her doctorate in KNowledge Managment wich is basically about Knoledge economy and what not. I don't understand any of it myself.

[James Deuce]

Should get my mom into this thread. She's got her doctorate in KNowledge Managment wich is basically about Knoledge economy and what not. I don't understand any of it myself.

It's away of making people who would be bereft of any useful skills if the power was turned off, feel important.

People like me.