There is one major problem with our "cookie cutter" educational process. I think Big D is really saying something like... "I learn things best as I put my hands on things, fiddle with it and figure out how and why it works".
The problem is, after about 1st grade, we sit in a chair, look at the board, (very bored) and listen to a boring schpeel about something that matters little in the overall scheme of life.
Yes, we need to learn to read, write, solve math problems and communicate well enough to get along with others. But for the most part, it's mostly memorizing, punctuation, diction and penmanship. (Yes/No/Other?)
Finally, in latter grade school, we get electives and can study other things that may be more to our liking and interests. We can take shop classes, cooking , art, computers, music and the like. Sure, we still have science, advanced math, english comp, political and world history to suffer through. But, not all day, every day.
Now, why can't schools also teach what is really needed in our latter years? Things like getting along in the work place, managing our money, investing our money, how to earn good money, how to manage a crisis, deal with problematic people, creative problem solving and things that really matter?
For the college bound students, most will have no clue what is ahead of them. Only a small percentage can say ... "I will be a Doctor, Engineer, Scientist, Computer Programmer, Dentist, Salesmen, Business Manager or Technician". For those who have that advanced focus, they are ready to launch.
However, for the majority of our Freshman and Sophomore years, we are dabbling in several options and mostly taking up space. Most have no idea what they can/will do most naturally and well, right out of 2nd grade sand box. (BTW, I was in that scenario the first year of college too)
Then, it finally hit me. I like electronics! I will study and learn about electronic devices and complex systems components. That was it... I was now ready to launch. (yeah, a late bloomer) But a very focused and motivated one as well.
Anyway, just curious here. How many of those reading this post, really knew what they could do and wanted to accomplish, fresh out of HS and early college? What's your story and how did you arrive at your present destination? THINK
Come on shy ones, now it's time for all to speak up an be counted. HAPPY
Swez
Replies (8)
Victor on 03/7/2006 16:09:21
hehehehehehe
I always wanted to be a politician since the age of 10....lol,
but after hitting a few barriers landed up in Car Audio world with a dignified interest. Did Biology in high school, and continued with Bio-technology in college, lost interest due to a girl friend from architecture and decided to join architecture, finished 3 years and got my bachelors didnt bother doing masters,
then biz struck me and thought of exporting some stuff, tried my hand at selling indian handicraft goods and did well for a year, suddenly got bored of a monotonous job and wanted to do soemthing creative, had always been bent on music and had been fiddling with electronic goods my dad used to have,, so started reading about Car Audio and messing with my car and home audio system
Thought of opening an install bay as i had some money from my previous biz, the bay went on well, and earned good, i started learning and mastered the art of designing enclosures.. got a contract from Blaupunkt tech after winning a local competition on enclosure design, one of my designs got selected and went into mass production.
Then I also wrote on car audio for an indian Magazine Autocar india, did a few articles with great help from the ol'man swez and some copy paste from the internet GRIN.... then TopGear launched their indian edition of the magazine and offered me to be on the contributors list.. i agreed and am now doing 3-4 articles a year for Topgear..
Later sold of the install bay to a friend and am now working as a Sound Consultant, just setup a firm named, Sound and Acoustic Designs ( SAD S A D if you are not happy with your audio system , we can make you smile GRIN ) that is my present, dunno a lot about the future
No regrets about anything, school and college life have been great, learnt a lot apart from studies, thinking about life, analysing people around and adjusting to circumstances taught me a lot what studies couldnt..
Yet i nave not given up the aim i had in my younger years.. Would some day or the other get into main stream politics..
Swez i guess we have talked for uncounted times, but never really told u this..
Its good you made this post.
Thanks.. and yeah, the rest of you please keep this post going, will help us know each other better..
Victor..
MrBrownstone on 03/7/2006 17:46:28
"...Now, why can't schools also teach what is really needed in our latter years? Things like getting along in the work place, managing our money, investing our money, how to earn good money, how to manage a crisis, deal with problematic people, creative problem solving and things that really matter?..."
because that's your parent's job.
Victor on 03/7/2006 17:54:21
I will definitely buy that idea from Mr.B
Each of them ie,. School and parents play a different role and are assigned different responsibilities towards a child.
but there is one thing i would want to share with you all, many of u must have already read it , yet its worth reading it a thousand times..
http://www.geocities.com/mine_cicek/Lincoln.html
( its a nice letter which a parent should read, understand and act on it FIRST, before handing it over to the teacher )
swez on 03/7/2006 22:12:18
Sad to say it... but suppose the parents did not have that knowledge or take the time to impart such things, before launching their kiddos into the bigger world outside HS? Think about it... most parents in the 60's and 70's did not have college degrees. Now, one cannot get a decent look at the better paying jobs w/o one.
That was true in my case and even more true today! Does anyone realize how many parents both work while the kids are at school? The numbers are staggering. Not all families NEED two incomes. But many women choose to work because the family wants to live at the same standards they saw thier parents providing. (The getting along and crisis management issues)
Heck, that took most parents 25-30 years to have such extra discretionary income. Now, many newly weds "expect" a nice home, 2 newer cars and many of the same things thier parents have now. But, they want it now and are willing to leverage and mortgage their futures with over-exyended credit to have it. (That's the financial planning I mentioned earlier)
Also, how about our present dilema of broken homes with only 1 parent, trying to balance work, finances and prepping the teens for adulthood? Statistics tell us that about 50% of all 1st marriages end in divorce. There may be adequate funds in time to put a roof over the kiddos heads, but who's watching the "hen house" while the custodial parent is away at work? (Not Super Nanny)
Last thought here too... the #1 cause of divorce in the USA is over money and financial issues. Most couples get very stressed out when deep in debt and much more outgo than income.
Who's Next!
Swez
MrBrownstone on 03/7/2006 22:47:25
#1 cause of divorce money? It's the #1 excuse.
swez on 03/8/2006 09:49:03
Well, we do agree on that one. It's an excuse, but also a major cause of friction and crisis in the home. This is not the root cause. It's just a major symtom of deeper issues.
Anyway, the idea here is to solicit success stories to/from our readers. It is not intended to become a topic of debate, rants and other less productive commentary.
Mr. B., have a few good stories about climbing out of "the nest" and making life work out well, even while adversity was dogging at the heals right?
Care to share some of those moments and how it all came together with persistance, determination, passion to attain the goal and the satisfaction derived from the process? Come on ol boy. you can do it.
It's Showtime!
Swez
PS Some topics to consider:
1. A story of HVACMN's origins and challenges that were overcome
2. Moving from Minni-Colda to San Di-warmo
3. Learning the ropes in Blackjack and now Poker
4. Landing that first good job
gearhead on 03/8/2006 11:59:10
I knew I had a knack for music at 10, and engines/mechanical at about 13. By 16 I knew that music probably wouldn't provide a "stable" income. I also knew that I didn't have the demeanor for college. Joined the military right out of HS and went into electronics, thinking that since I enjoy mechanics, if I did it for a "job" it would lose it's fun aspect. Good/bad move. I didn't have any problem learning what I needed to know in electronics, it just didn't do anything for me. Put in my time, got out, went to machine shop school while working as a mechanic part time. Graduated from machine shop, got a job as a machinist. Production works is the pits. Got a full time job with a major trucking company and worked for them for 14yrs, working up to a middle management position. Worked a few other full time jobs as a diesel mechanic and "retired" at 44.
As far as learning what it takes to survive in the "real world", that was taught to me by my parents. Cooking, cleaning, sewing, finances, common sense, etc..
"If you make $10hr, you can't spend an $15hr."
MrBrownstone on 03/8/2006 16:26:57
what I was getting at was usually it is selfishness that leads to money problems...one person hogging up all the dough to quell personal desires.
The main reason marriages break up is that most enter it as a civil contract, and not a religious union. It's weird, but since 1989, all of my friends involved in a religious union are still married, while all but one (on the rocks) of the non-religious are not. Marriage is a commitment of 2 people to a higher power. Problem is, most get married after attaining a level of physical maturity and emotional attraction and 'make it legal' just to progress to the next step.
More on Mr B after work hours.
The problem is, after about 1st grade, we sit in a chair, look at the board, (very bored) and listen to a boring schpeel about something that matters little in the overall scheme of life.
Yes, we need to learn to read, write, solve math problems and communicate well enough to get along with others. But for the most part, it's mostly memorizing, punctuation, diction and penmanship. (Yes/No/Other?)
Finally, in latter grade school, we get electives and can study other things that may be more to our liking and interests. We can take shop classes, cooking , art, computers, music and the like. Sure, we still have science, advanced math, english comp, political and world history to suffer through. But, not all day, every day.
Now, why can't schools also teach what is really needed in our latter years? Things like getting along in the work place, managing our money, investing our money, how to earn good money, how to manage a crisis, deal with problematic people, creative problem solving and things that really matter?
For the college bound students, most will have no clue what is ahead of them. Only a small percentage can say ... "I will be a Doctor, Engineer, Scientist, Computer Programmer, Dentist, Salesmen, Business Manager or Technician". For those who have that advanced focus, they are ready to launch.
However, for the majority of our Freshman and Sophomore years, we are dabbling in several options and mostly taking up space. Most have no idea what they can/will do most naturally and well, right out of 2nd grade sand box. (BTW, I was in that scenario the first year of college too)
Then, it finally hit me. I like electronics! I will study and learn about electronic devices and complex systems components. That was it... I was now ready to launch. (yeah, a late bloomer) But a very focused and motivated one as well.
Anyway, just curious here. How many of those reading this post, really knew what they could do and wanted to accomplish, fresh out of HS and early college? What's your story and how did you arrive at your present destination? THINK
Come on shy ones, now it's time for all to speak up an be counted. HAPPY
Swez
Replies (8)
Victor on 03/7/2006 16:09:21
hehehehehehe
I always wanted to be a politician since the age of 10....lol,
but after hitting a few barriers landed up in Car Audio world with a dignified interest. Did Biology in high school, and continued with Bio-technology in college, lost interest due to a girl friend from architecture and decided to join architecture, finished 3 years and got my bachelors didnt bother doing masters,
then biz struck me and thought of exporting some stuff, tried my hand at selling indian handicraft goods and did well for a year, suddenly got bored of a monotonous job and wanted to do soemthing creative, had always been bent on music and had been fiddling with electronic goods my dad used to have,, so started reading about Car Audio and messing with my car and home audio system
Thought of opening an install bay as i had some money from my previous biz, the bay went on well, and earned good, i started learning and mastered the art of designing enclosures.. got a contract from Blaupunkt tech after winning a local competition on enclosure design, one of my designs got selected and went into mass production.
Then I also wrote on car audio for an indian Magazine Autocar india, did a few articles with great help from the ol'man swez and some copy paste from the internet GRIN.... then TopGear launched their indian edition of the magazine and offered me to be on the contributors list.. i agreed and am now doing 3-4 articles a year for Topgear..
Later sold of the install bay to a friend and am now working as a Sound Consultant, just setup a firm named, Sound and Acoustic Designs ( SAD S A D if you are not happy with your audio system , we can make you smile GRIN ) that is my present, dunno a lot about the future
No regrets about anything, school and college life have been great, learnt a lot apart from studies, thinking about life, analysing people around and adjusting to circumstances taught me a lot what studies couldnt..
Yet i nave not given up the aim i had in my younger years.. Would some day or the other get into main stream politics..
Swez i guess we have talked for uncounted times, but never really told u this..
Its good you made this post.
Thanks.. and yeah, the rest of you please keep this post going, will help us know each other better..
Victor..
MrBrownstone on 03/7/2006 17:46:28
"...Now, why can't schools also teach what is really needed in our latter years? Things like getting along in the work place, managing our money, investing our money, how to earn good money, how to manage a crisis, deal with problematic people, creative problem solving and things that really matter?..."
because that's your parent's job.
Victor on 03/7/2006 17:54:21
I will definitely buy that idea from Mr.B
Each of them ie,. School and parents play a different role and are assigned different responsibilities towards a child.
but there is one thing i would want to share with you all, many of u must have already read it , yet its worth reading it a thousand times..
http://www.geocities.com/mine_cicek/Lincoln.html
( its a nice letter which a parent should read, understand and act on it FIRST, before handing it over to the teacher )
swez on 03/7/2006 22:12:18
Sad to say it... but suppose the parents did not have that knowledge or take the time to impart such things, before launching their kiddos into the bigger world outside HS? Think about it... most parents in the 60's and 70's did not have college degrees. Now, one cannot get a decent look at the better paying jobs w/o one.
That was true in my case and even more true today! Does anyone realize how many parents both work while the kids are at school? The numbers are staggering. Not all families NEED two incomes. But many women choose to work because the family wants to live at the same standards they saw thier parents providing. (The getting along and crisis management issues)
Heck, that took most parents 25-30 years to have such extra discretionary income. Now, many newly weds "expect" a nice home, 2 newer cars and many of the same things thier parents have now. But, they want it now and are willing to leverage and mortgage their futures with over-exyended credit to have it. (That's the financial planning I mentioned earlier)
Also, how about our present dilema of broken homes with only 1 parent, trying to balance work, finances and prepping the teens for adulthood? Statistics tell us that about 50% of all 1st marriages end in divorce. There may be adequate funds in time to put a roof over the kiddos heads, but who's watching the "hen house" while the custodial parent is away at work? (Not Super Nanny)
Last thought here too... the #1 cause of divorce in the USA is over money and financial issues. Most couples get very stressed out when deep in debt and much more outgo than income.
Who's Next!
Swez
MrBrownstone on 03/7/2006 22:47:25
#1 cause of divorce money? It's the #1 excuse.
swez on 03/8/2006 09:49:03
Well, we do agree on that one. It's an excuse, but also a major cause of friction and crisis in the home. This is not the root cause. It's just a major symtom of deeper issues.
Anyway, the idea here is to solicit success stories to/from our readers. It is not intended to become a topic of debate, rants and other less productive commentary.
Mr. B., have a few good stories about climbing out of "the nest" and making life work out well, even while adversity was dogging at the heals right?
Care to share some of those moments and how it all came together with persistance, determination, passion to attain the goal and the satisfaction derived from the process? Come on ol boy. you can do it.
It's Showtime!
Swez
PS Some topics to consider:
1. A story of HVACMN's origins and challenges that were overcome
2. Moving from Minni-Colda to San Di-warmo
3. Learning the ropes in Blackjack and now Poker
4. Landing that first good job
gearhead on 03/8/2006 11:59:10
I knew I had a knack for music at 10, and engines/mechanical at about 13. By 16 I knew that music probably wouldn't provide a "stable" income. I also knew that I didn't have the demeanor for college. Joined the military right out of HS and went into electronics, thinking that since I enjoy mechanics, if I did it for a "job" it would lose it's fun aspect. Good/bad move. I didn't have any problem learning what I needed to know in electronics, it just didn't do anything for me. Put in my time, got out, went to machine shop school while working as a mechanic part time. Graduated from machine shop, got a job as a machinist. Production works is the pits. Got a full time job with a major trucking company and worked for them for 14yrs, working up to a middle management position. Worked a few other full time jobs as a diesel mechanic and "retired" at 44.
As far as learning what it takes to survive in the "real world", that was taught to me by my parents. Cooking, cleaning, sewing, finances, common sense, etc..
"If you make $10hr, you can't spend an $15hr."
MrBrownstone on 03/8/2006 16:26:57
what I was getting at was usually it is selfishness that leads to money problems...one person hogging up all the dough to quell personal desires.
The main reason marriages break up is that most enter it as a civil contract, and not a religious union. It's weird, but since 1989, all of my friends involved in a religious union are still married, while all but one (on the rocks) of the non-religious are not. Marriage is a commitment of 2 people to a higher power. Problem is, most get married after attaining a level of physical maturity and emotional attraction and 'make it legal' just to progress to the next step.
More on Mr B after work hours.
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