A great tragedy of our time is the failure to recognise that education is more than book-learning. Boys in particular need to DO things. Engaging them is crucial. Not everyone is academic, and giving them hand/eye skills while they are enjoying themselves has probably more value in turning them into useful citizens than compelling them to stay at school while switched off from learning: The sad current state of affairs for many.
We shouldn't underestimate the ability of our children, but we must fire them up. My father (or your grandfather) probably left school at fourteen, possibly knowing more arithmetic and better able to read and write than some of those we see coming out of too many of our schools today.
In Lithuania, one specialist aviation school teaches nine-year-olds to fly gliders - using the highly adventurous solo method. The kids lap it up, and most go on to become proper engineers.
Day-release from work to go to college worked for my generation. Why not day release to go to work for fourteen-year olds? Working hands-on as, say, an apprentice joiner soon shows the lad (or ladess) the utility of geometry when they help set out their first circular bay window, or wreathed and scrolled handrail: An aspiring mechanic (fitter, more like) needs to appreciate the difference between a force-fit, a running fit, and slop, in a mechanism.
We need to see a return to vocational training at school as another route into industry, as a stepping stone to better things. That's the REAL advantage of an apprenticeship.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Youth unemployment
My younger readers won't perhaps be aware that we've been here before: the present situation is a repeat of the early eighties (heard of the YOP scheme) and again of the late eighties.
I was building a joinery business through those years, and while skilled labour was increasingly hard to find, the growing pool of unemployed youth was becoming increasingly hard to employ. Why was that?
1. Bad attitude was all too common. Resentful and truculent is never good, especially when you want a job. Attacking your employer (physically or verbally) does not go far in securing your employment.
2. Lack of ambition. All too often the ONLY thing in these lads minds was "football".
3. Too high in expectations.
It was so sad to see these young men, the flower of our nation, desperate for jobs, but virtually unskilled despite years of useless government courses one after the other, expecting the wages of a skilled man. The competitive demands of the business made it impossible to accede to their demands.
Perhaps one in twenty, when asked "where do you want to be in five years time" would point to one of the skilled machinists and say "I want his job". Needless to say, these were the ones who got the job, and invariable made a success of it.
Those days were HARD for anyone in industry, as our government was intent on exporting jobs. We said so at the time, but no one was listening. Now, everyone recognises the folly.
Guess what! We told 'em so.
I have to do some work now, but I have more to write on this subject.
I was building a joinery business through those years, and while skilled labour was increasingly hard to find, the growing pool of unemployed youth was becoming increasingly hard to employ. Why was that?
1. Bad attitude was all too common. Resentful and truculent is never good, especially when you want a job. Attacking your employer (physically or verbally) does not go far in securing your employment.
2. Lack of ambition. All too often the ONLY thing in these lads minds was "football".
3. Too high in expectations.
It was so sad to see these young men, the flower of our nation, desperate for jobs, but virtually unskilled despite years of useless government courses one after the other, expecting the wages of a skilled man. The competitive demands of the business made it impossible to accede to their demands.
Perhaps one in twenty, when asked "where do you want to be in five years time" would point to one of the skilled machinists and say "I want his job". Needless to say, these were the ones who got the job, and invariable made a success of it.
Those days were HARD for anyone in industry, as our government was intent on exporting jobs. We said so at the time, but no one was listening. Now, everyone recognises the folly.
Guess what! We told 'em so.
I have to do some work now, but I have more to write on this subject.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
