[cripplecreek]

John Ratzenberger is correct about the fact that we need to go back to teaching shop class in school. Even if it doesn’t lead you down a career path you’ll be able to put up a wall that doesn’t fall down.

[grania]

I'll go all-Luddite with this thought. We were better off when teens had radios, cars, bikes, toys and things around the house that would be repaired when they broke down. When moms sewed or darned clothing to extend its life. When kids were given hammers, nails, saws and wood and built their own forts etc. When they could take directions, and make a kite from basic materials. When going on a trip involved taking out a map and figuring it out. When meals were cooked from basic ingredients. etc

This is where the personal tools for innovation begin. From practical experience and problem solving.

[JoeFromSidney]

John Ratzenberger is correct about the fact that we need to go back to teaching shop class in school. Even if it doesn’t lead you down a career path you’ll be able to put up a wall that doesn’t fall down.

I have a PhD in Mathematics. I also still have the little footstool I made in high school shop class, where I learned to use almost every one of the tools in the carpenters' toolkit. I've never regretted the time spent in woodworking shop or mechanical drawing. The skills learned there have served me well in life, even though I never held a job as a carpenter.

Whether they learn to use handtools in school or from their father, children need to know those things.

When I was teaching in Turkey, one day my department chairman remarked to me that the big difference between the engineering students he knew when he studied in America, and the students coming into Turkish universities, was that American engineering students were familiar with hand tools. I wonder if that's still true.