The kiwi can-do attitude. Is it dead?

[TygerTung]

I enjoy working on things. I think to a degree it's the sort of person you are. My dad is a teacher, he does stuff around the house, has done up a few car engines etc. As a child I was always hitting nails into bits of wood making wooden go karts and stuff like that. Some people are just not into it though, they just cant figure out how mechanical things work! These people may be good at other things instead like English, maths, banking etc.

Everyone is built different, but I think to a certain degree the kiwi ingenuity is going.

I would prefer to go home and work on my shitty old motorbike than doing a couple of hours overtime and getting someone else to do it, they say a change is as good as a holiday, and I find it quite relaxing, most of the time!

[Ixion]

One of the (many) failings of the present day education system is the degree to which it has indoctrinated people with the idea that using any tool other than a pen is a sign of failure in life and a lower class status.

When I was at school, both woodwork and metalwork were compulsory classes for every boy , as were needlecraft and cooking for every girl.

So even the academic lads left able to hammer a nail and tighten a nut. And every lass left able to roast a joint of meat and take up a hem

(It would have been better still of course if both boys and girls had been required to do all four. A failing that I had to remedy for myself later in life).

And there were quite a few lads who started off in the academic streams , and then decided they preferred the technical ones and switched.

To balance matters, every student also had to take English, maths, and either latin, French or Greek.

Less time spent on Treaty Studies and more on such Life Studies would be of benefit both to the pupils and to society.

[TygerTung]

When I was at primary school we went to a school in town and did metalwork, woodwork, sewing, and cooking. That was in the early 90's though, I dunno if they still do it.

[imdying]

People are becoming victims of your their own fears!

Injection systems are dead easy to work on, easier than carbs in some respects. The computers on bikes tell you what's wrong, and when they can't give you the right answer, that's still no harder to track down than an 'off idle cough' in a carb'd bike. Not that it matters much, their failure rate is pretty darned good... hell if a bit breaks, it'll still attempt to get you home on whatever sensors are left. Nicasil plated bores are a pain, but never need to be touched for the life of a vehicle in normal use (2 strokes excepted). Cables are cables, chain n sprockets are still chain n sprockets... fly by wire, no biggy there, bikes have had similar servo controlled things for 20 years (got EXUP or SAPC?), the CPUs are just faster now.

People are simply to pussy to give it a go... bikes are getting easier to work on, not harder.

It ain't dead where I am, that's for sure.

/edit: Just thinking about it... my 85 RZ500 had a zillion more wires and hoses than an 02 GSXR1000

[madandy]

One of the (many) failings of the present day education system is the degree to which it has indoctrinated people with the idea that using any tool other than a pen is a sign of failure in life and a lower class status.

When I was at school, both woodwork and metalwork were compulsory classes for every boy , as were needlecraft and cooking for every girl.

So even the academic lads left able to hammer a nail and tighten a nut. And every lass left able to roast a joint of meat and take up a hem

(It would have been better still of course if both boys and girls had been required to do all four. A failing that I had to remedy for myself later in life).

And there were quite a few lads who started off in the academic streams , and then decided they preferred the technical ones and switched.

To balance matters, every student also had to take English, maths, and either latin, French or Greek.

Less time spent on Treaty Studies and more on such Life Studies would be of benefit both to the pupils and to society.

I would have quoted all yuor posts in this thread Sir but this one'll do.
I can relate to your posts so well, and agree with you in principal.
In the '80's every boy and every girl did do woodwork and metal work, sewing and cooking. It was also compulsory to study either French or German one term and then Japanese or Maori the next term...I don't know what choices the kids have today but they seem to choose what ever is easiest!
I just lost my apprentice last week. 3 years down the tubes as he couldn't handle his 3rd to last on job unit standard which was to be the boss for a month - he had to design a work plan, plan B for wet weather and plan C for any other unforseeable situation we commonly see in my worlk place. The boy (25yrs old) simply lacked the fortitude to handle crticism and think on his feet.
He was a selfish, spoilt 'generation-Y' thorn in my side.
He came to us with a School Certificate and could not calculate 12.5% of 50 in his head let alone brace a pipe in the ground with a wooden stake and some wire!
I have a 20yr old labourer on the other hand who is very practically minded, resourcefull, considerate and unfortunately unwilling to undertake an apprenticeship due to lack of confidence in his own ability. And perhaps he also lacks the motivation. Typical in those I meet under 40.
I am 32 next month, for the record and choose to DIY where possible and enjoy a life of improving properties together with my talented partner to supplement our modest incomes as a Greenkeeper and 'Clerk' and afford our family some luxuries as well as the essential toys in life

[nodrog:Me]

So even the academic lads left able to hammer a nail and tighten a nut. And every lass left able to roast a joint of meat and take up a hem

now the lads just leave, able to get hammered and bust a nut, and all the girls are able to roll a joint of weed and take it in the bum.

[madandy]

now the lads just leave, able to get hammered and bust a nut, and all the girls are able to roll a joint of weed and take it in the bum.

'YOu have given out too much..."

Nice manipulation of words there! Sadly so true for many high school 'graduates' these days...

[mashman]

'YOu have given out too much..."

Nice manipulation of words there! Sadly so true for many high school 'graduates' these days...

REALLY!!!!! Reckon they'll take me back at High School???

[Nade]

mmmmmm....its sad in my thinking....this 'lack' of skills. When I left school at 16 and went and got a job, my teachers and class mates told me I was mad...I should go to uni and study hard and get a REAL job. Funny thing is...I got a job....earned my own money...worked my way up the 'food chain'. Many of my ex classmates came home from uni and I had flash cars, lived in a flat by myself and had MONEY to get pissed at weekends and go away on trips etc.....wot did they have??? a hang over and a peice of paper that said they were academically(sp?) skilled but on the job experience/ hand skills and LIFE skills were lacking.
When I was chief engineer at a company in CHCH 12 years after leaving school I had university graduates come and work for us as labourers because they couldn't get a job with their qualiforcations....the jobs just weren't their for them.....one of them eventually retrained and took on an apprenticeship as a deisel mechanic and hasn't looked back since. Others I have seen working as couriers and even stacking shelves in super markets.....still with whacking great student loans....no wonder they graduate and piss off over seas.

[munterk6]

Shhhhhhhhhhh......
Im trying to make a living out of the lazy buggers!

[FROSTY:Me]

For me tis simple--fix it or don't ride --easy really

[Vacarious]

im 16 years old and have done all the work to my zxr250 myself... got the knowledge from my dad who was a panel beater for years.

but yeah labour cost too much to give it to a mechanic to chang oil and filter etc but for big things thats another story..

im still learning as i go, all the the little things that i fix myself helps and i pass that onto my friends.

[gismo]

I would love to be able to fix anything i wanted to... and i believe with the help from friends and family i just about could.
I hate having to spend money when i dont have to.
When i brought my first car, the first thing my dad did was show me how to change a tired and do oil and filter changes.
You can never have too many skills.