There are people in our community who are educational elitists or E2 snobs, people who disparage vocational training and the trades, harrumphing and sniffing that someone who chooses not to get at least a baccalaureate degree will surely be doomed to an unsatisfying and unproductive life.
To hear a remarkably different and refreshing viewpoint, please take time to watch and listen to this clip from the September 4 PBS News Hour online. Click on “Play Video” under the interviewee’s photo. It takes several seconds to load and play, but it’s worth the time.
Thank you for giving us the link to this video. This issue of people working with their hand is of particular interest to me. Educators of very young children are very aware of how reasoning skills and concept development are related to the use of hands. Its is called the “brain-hand connection.”
Some engineering companies are finding that employees who have their education based around computers and visual graphics (and who have not had a chance to use thier hands in problem solving) can be lacking in needed skills.
It is far easier to turn an engineer into a stock analyst than to turn a stock analyst into an engineer. An engineer or mechanic by nature is a analyst and problem solver. (That not to say that stock analysts are lacking in reasoning ability.)
I would love to listen to other experiences and observations.
Comment by citizen — September 7, 2009 @ 7:19 pm
Some of the most fascinating people in the White House weren’t the elected and appointed “knowledge workers.” The most interesting people were the tradesmen: painters, plasterers, carpenters, cabinetmakers, electricians, metal workers, welders, picture framers, furniture restorers, and plumbers (real ones, not the Nixonian ones). With every White House tour, whether in person or televised, the public could see their work, yet the tradesmen were hardly ever acknowledged. They could quite literally change the face of a West Wing office overnight. They could tear down old walls, put up new ones, lay new carpet, hang new wall hangings, and do everything that had to be done in 12 hours or so to remove the traces of the old occupant and make it ready for the new one. And all without the smell of fresh paint or carpet. They were truly the Wizards of the White House. And boy howdy, did they have stories to tell.
Comment by Bill — September 8, 2009 @ 6:46 am
What a wonderful book that would make! Imagine interviewing the manual workers inside the White House and telling the stories.
Perhaps Mary with her literary skills could make a fortune doing that.
One of the things I admired most about my son was how, while still in elementary school, would take over the manual tasks of the house. He took over the plumbing and repair jobs. He became an engineer.
He was the only kid that I know of who packed a full tool box to start college. My friends laughed and said they had never heard of such a thing.
This conversation brings back memories of our young boy who worked with his hands.
Comment by citizen — September 12, 2009 @ 9:34 am
citizen,
The tradesmen (they even had their own entrance to the WH — appropriately called the “Tradesmen’s Entrance”) were craftsmen and artisans. In many ways their hands and minds were as skilled and attuned as a surgeon’s. Their shops were in the basement of the Old Executive Office Building just across West Executive Avenue. Because of the historical nature of the White House, much of what the tradesmen did had to be done with an eye toward historical preservation. The White House Historical Association ruled with an iron hand, and woe betide anyone who dared poke a hole or change a wall without consultation with the WHHA.
Even though the career tradesmen were trusted and cleared, we still had to escort them when they worked in the House. I always volunteered for the escorts, because it was like going to graduate school in the trades. They were nice people, and more than willing to explain the finer points of everything they did. These were intelligent people, not knuckle-draggers, who took professional pride in their workmanship and their keeping abreast of the newest practices and technologies relevant to their trades.
Comment by Bill — September 12, 2009 @ 10:03 am
This is off the subject – maybe something for an open post disccussion but I would like to bring it up.
How does the city decide to release their position statements? For instance the city administrator released an email to HBO – the other blog – regarding the questions Susie Snedaker and Mary Souza brought up on franchise fees. HBO states it is an email but it’s actually a link to a post on the city blog. Probably, selectively emailed? Did OpenCDA get one?
Then, not that long ago another “leak” from the city went to the same blog about Sims. From who?
Almost always – these disclosures at HBO are met with ridcicule, mockery, and distain. This tells me that the city deliberately discloses their material to this blog so they can discredit instead of engaging rational discussion with active community citizens, rather than addressing their concerns on other community news aggregators, such as this one. The city appears biased in that their commentary is exclusive to only one blog in this area which sheds an unfavorable and false light on certain individulas active in city government. This other blog in turn invites community participation from others who rally in a negative manner by attacking these citizens. Some of them have never had face to face encounters with those they discredit and I doubt if they attend city council meetings. However, they will show up at beer/condom fests.
I would like the city to open their doors of communication by openly particpating on all recognized news sources and public opinion blogs in this area. I am sure the city Administator knows other places to address her concerns other than running to a gossip blog that will slant opinions of concerned citizens in a negative manner. Did she (city admin) by any chance call or talk to Susie or Mary before she wrote her post – why was this not addressed at the council meeting – but instead orchestrated to backfire on the folks who ask legitimate questions?
I would have posted this on the city blog but I did not see any place for comments.
Comment by Stebbijo — September 12, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
Bill can you share with us your role at the White House? You talk of escourting the trades people in the White House.
Comment by citizen — September 12, 2009 @ 3:40 pm
Life these days is complex enough that I genuinely think that people should aspire for some amount of college level work. That does not at all diminish what the trades contribute nor how well a person can succeed with just those skills. But, they need to understand finance, computers and would certainly benefit from higher levels of literacy and math. How many people allowed themselves to get into mortgage and other debt trouble for the wont of better knowledge. By the same token many erudites could benefit from learning and EXPERIENCING some hands on skills.
Stebbijo… While I agree with your observations and presumptions it is a lot of spent bile that will gain you nothing but dyspepsia. Everyone knows full well how those lines of inside communications work and why. My suggestion: Lose HBO. Concentrate on Mike Patrick and the Press. Try to get them to be more investigative and proactive for their readership. There has been some discussions about the Press holding debates or forums for the local elections along the lines of the recent healthcare forum. In other words the more HBO and the SR are out of our Idaho picture the better…. and anything you can do to aid that is to all of our benefit.
Comment by Wallypog — September 12, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
Stebbijo,
No, you can’t post comments on either the City’s website or its weblog. If they were to allow comments, they would get hammered, and the public would see just how inept they really are.
Comment by Bill — September 12, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
Wallypog – thanks for the feedback,however – dysepsia? Surely, you jest! 🙂 My stomach can take about anything, right now it is my leg that hurts!
I do appreciate your constructive remarks – while I have “lost” HBO and it’s interests per se, one cannot ignore the relationship the city has with these entities, that I feel ill informs the community. With that said, I will try to work on your suggestions.
Bill – I do not understand how the city can publish a blogspot blog, then lock all the people out, while they pick and choose their contributors. It’s really lame and quite a joke since we are paying for the time it takes to maintain it.
Comment by Stebbijo — September 12, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
Stebbijo,
You’re assuming that the City is interested in delivering timely, accurate information to citizens and receiving useful feedback. The City’s weblog is the online propaganda arm of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Coeur d’Alene.
Comment by Bill — September 12, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
It is just rude and elitist of people to think that a college degree is the only way to get ahead. You just have to consider the source and remember that people just like to judge and be rude.
Comment by Cathyanne Nonini — September 12, 2009 @ 10:19 pm
Cathyanne,
Thank you for commenting. Vocational training and baccalaureate education are not mutually exclusive. People can have both. A high school graduate seeking vocational training through community colleges, apprenticeship programs, or the military will not automatically be an inferior student should s/he later decide to enroll in a baccalaureate program at a four-year college or university. There is a compelling argument to be made that students who have been working in a vocation and choose to then enroll in a four-year degree program will add value to their classes (in addition to not being afraid to stand up to ivy-covered administrators, instructors and professors whose careers have been spent inside ivy-covered halls.) Bringing worldly experience into the college classroom benefits all the students.
Comment by Bill — September 13, 2009 @ 7:53 am
My faternal grandfather never had the opportunity to attend school past the 6th grade. He was a self educated man and an avid reader. He made his living as a salesman and later owned a very successful motel. Part of his success was recognizing his talents, developing a charming and interesting personality, and working hard. He was a life long learner and student of the world.
A book was written a number of years ago about the “seven intelligences.” Included (as I remember) were the intelligences of math, language, music, fine arts, social skills, mechanical ability. The key is to find one’s special intelligences and make the most of them. Many a successful business promoter never went to college, they had the ability to read the needs of others and use social skills to sell products and ideas.
This comes from a person who highly values education and assumed my children would go to college. Yet, I taught them not to be elitists and to value all work well done. I think I succeeded.
Wallypog and I probably agree, but express it in different ways. We would certainly both agree that life long learning is needed in a world ever changing. The vehicle of the learning can vary.
What say you Wallypog?
Comment by citizen — September 13, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
Citizen…. I fully agree with your position. What is different these days is that the world is moving much, much faster. People need to identify their strong points faster and develop them sooner. That is the same for everyone, the educated as well. It is said that when an engineer completes an undergrad degree that much of what they just learned is already off of technologies leading edge. The new grad needs to leap into a chosen field and hone their learned skills to be on top of that discipline.
I do think that our elementary education needs to be bolstered to better prepare our children for whatever avocation they might choose.
Comment by Wallypog — September 13, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
citizen and Wallypog,
Thanks for the great comments in 13 and 14. They were very well expressed and on target.
Comment by Bill — September 13, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
Wallypog…..Right ON!
Elementary schools could truly help the young students recognize their talents.
As an educator I asked every parent what skills or talents their child might have.
Many parents expressed worry about Johnny or Joannie being too social to pay attention in school. They saw things in a new light when I told them to foster that at home because it was a valuable skill in life.
Boys can have a rough time in school as things are often geared to the girls. By nature boys are more active and are more interested in hands on activities. Boys’ language generally developes later than girls, but they tend to have better spacial (Sp. ?) relationships at a young age. The number of boys attending college is now lower than the number of girls. As parents and educators we need to do a better job of helping all students discover their talents and nuture them.
Thank the Lord, I knew at a young age I was a lousy speller and would never succeed as a secretary. On the flip side no one helped me discover my talents until the age of 17 when someone told me I had a knack with kids and was a natural teacher. (just not an English teacher)
Comment by citizen — September 13, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
I come from a family of blue collar workers and am proud of all the hard work I did in my life.It was satisfying to be able to work hard and make lots of money at the same time but, by the time you get into your forties,the body starts to break down or has already broken down and sometimes it fails.My dad used to get me out of grade school to go work which, today would be criminal but, at least he instilled in me a good work ethic.
The problem I have with the Adult Basic Education(GED)classes are:they are geared for kids who want to enter
a four year college and get a degree,
not the person who needs a GED to enter a vocational school.I knew someone who took classes down on 5th
st.and she quit after several months,
because some of the math classes were too hard.Kids today are better off graduating from H.S.or going to dropout school;than they would be trying to get their GED through NIC’s
ABE program.Why do prospective vocational students need to learn trig or geometry or algebra anyway?
Also, most vocational programs at NIC
don’t really pay a living wage out in the world, except a few of the classes.Today, if you have a combined family income of:$40,000 or less your poor by todays standards.
But,at least getting some type of training, is better than no training at all.
Comment by kageman — September 17, 2009 @ 6:14 pm