high school cabinetry closing

[cabnet636]

James Mcgrew


I need your help

tuesday night i am going to speak at the board meeting for richland district two as the principle of richland northeast high school with one year of experience is moving to eliminate the auto and cabinetmaking programs and replace them with culinary arts at the high school level. this program has cnc machines and growth in students since its inception. any one in the columbia are...a who can attend i would appreciate it. this is not about any local area it is about all. this is about exposure to manufactiing and self made ingenuity, it includes signmaking, plastics, construction and the list goes on. if you could send me short emails on your thoughts, this will be graetly appreciated, i will submit them to the board

the students really need your help email to new2cnc@gmail.com

[myxpykalix]

This probably would be a good idea for all of us write an email maybe relating an account of how, now with the benefit of hindsight, and years of experience, we have benefited from the education we received from shop classes and how we have adapted that education which was the foundation of our woodworking abilities to now include computer skills and how now, they compliment and enhance each other.

(I learned something in english composition class too...)

[cabnet636]

i need to confess that i have benn one algebra class away from my degree in institutional hospiltailty management for 30 years i was 3 credit horus away and went back into business woodworking

i am approaching this on an inclusion not an either or choice as we need education at all levels

[cabnet636]

This probably would be a good idea for all of us write an email maybe relating an account of how, now with the benefit of hindsight, and years of experience, we have benefited from the education we received from shop classes and how we have adapted that education which was the foundation of our woodworking abilities to now include computer skills and how now, they compliment and enhance each other.

(I learned something in english composition class too...)

thank you this is the train of thought

[michael_schwartz]

I never had shop classes and nobody would let me near a woodworking shop, until I was an adult for liability reasons. That could have been a 4 year head start.

The scariest part to me is that these kids who grow up without shop class eventually buy a home end up acquiring power tools and have no training in their use or shop safety. These are fundamental life skills. One of my Doctors was telling me about the tables saw he just purchased. They don't teach you about that sort of stuff in med school.

In the area I live now most of the Highschools still have shop programs. Some of then are quite good and it is amazing to see some of the work these kids do.

Feel free to quote me and if there is anything I can provide for an email let me know.

[jerry_stanek]

Years ago they had a debate at what courses should be required in high school

shop and home economics
how to get a passport
how to change a tire
how do do income taxes
how to open a bank account
how to swim
how to apply for a job
how to balance a checkbook
first aid cpr and choking

There were other things but I can't remember them

[chiloquinruss]

Jim, you have mail! Russ

[cabnet636]

thank you all very much i know we share this !!

[bleeth]

I have practiced my trade in two parts of the country. In the Northwest (Seattle area) there were not only shop classes in high schools and tech schools but also had a cabinetmaking and boatuilding curricula school at which students graduated with an AA degree.
Where I am now, in South Florida, there are no such courses left.
In Seattle I was constantly hiring students out of the school and I found them motivated carpenters with good basic skills and computer literate. Many of the graduates from those programs went on to become business owners and managers.
In South Florida the typical apprentice has no skills and doesn't even know how to turn a computer on.
The modern shop class, when competently taught, teaches a multitude of skills that are applicable to many other areas. If a student can learn CAD/CAM then they can learn any program. When they graduate those who have a particular knack for it and couple their shop classes with higher maths have a fabulous grounding for engineering, something that is needed more and more in the marketplace and is being filled by those from overseas.
The custom furniture, signage, and other related businesses are still, and look to remain in the foreseeable future, good businesses in this country and helping to train our own children to enable them to take their place in those trades is not only good for them but also good for the country.

[jTr]

Regarding Industrial Arts education in schools:
I participated in metal and woodworking portions of industrial arts classes as I attended high school in the 80’s. After decades of different career moves, I never lost my appetite for the satisfaction of doing things for myself. My teacher, Phil O’Rourke instilled a great level of respect for the craft as well as the machinery. I was amazed to discover that he continues to teach wood shop classes in a town neighboring the high school I attended in Massachusetts. When seeing his name and contributions to the forum on Shop-Bot CNC’s, I was stunned, as I was considering and have since placed an order for my own machine. One day I’d like to email him directly, though I don’t expect he’ll recall me personally. I just find it amazing that the man continues to inspire kids and has embraced this latest form of technology . It took me several decades to enter into a woodworking career, but I can say I never forgot the foundation I learned in those classes. Just as I have discovered the importance of communication skills learned in English classes, mathematics, etc., those industrial arts classes have helped prepare me to grow into my passion for my current career. I received no degree, but was given an instinct for being self sufficient. I hope the latest generation of administrators does not discard this portion of education. I believe is essential to show kids that it really is OK to go to work and use your hands to do more than type and click a mouse – I’m crafting a very rewarding career thanks to those programs and especially those teachers who gave more to us kids than they may ever realize...

Sincerely,
Jeffrey T Roltgen
Roltgen’s Woodworks
jeff@roltgenswoodworks.com
www.roltgenswoodworks.com