What is more important Shop Class or Sports

[Portable Welder]

Over the years I have preached how important shop class was to me and all my friends, whether it be Welding, auto shop, Auto Body, Wood shop, HVAC class, small Engines and machine shop.

I have to say that the majority of my friends currently work in a field that we were exposed to from H.S. shop.

However, when I try to come up with one person that makes a living from sports I cant think of ( one ), I do understand that there are many things that you get out of sports such as working as a team and discipline but I dont think sports should trump shop class.

If this is the case why are the schools spending excessive amount of money on foot ball fields and other things as such and eliminating all shop classes.
There are very few schools that have shop classes.
I thought school was a place to go and learn so that when your done you can go out in the real world and get a job.

The kids I come across now days can tell you anything you want about a star athlete but are clueless about how to build or fix anything.

I know one thing for sure, I dont have to worry about any kids kicking me out of a job.

[theweldor]

You are so right. I see it all the time. It will be interesting to see what happens as time goes on.

[ryanjones2150]

What is more important Shop Class or Sports

I spent all four years of a high school elective in wood shop. Was right next to the metal shop and never stepped a foot in it...but that's a different story...

My high school shop (don't call it shop class!! It's construction systems) teacher was one of the most influential people in my life. He taught me things that I would never have learned about and how stuff works without him. ****, his hand tools test was so hard MOST people failed it the first time around! If it wasn't for him, I would have to call a plumber for simple stuff, an electrician for small stuff, etc. Not only did I learn valuable skills, but I learned how to develop my own skills to get things done right.

He was also the girl's softball coach...knowing nothing about softball, but he have it a shot because the team needed someone to step up.

Larry Downhour...I owe you a steak dinner...many times over.

[Portable Welder]

I agree, A good shop teacher is key, The shop teacher that I learned the most from was actually not a teacher, he was a retired pipe welder that decided to start teaching after he retired, he would get in the booth with you, wrap his arms around you and actually hold your hands as you welded.

Unfortunately, Foyd Brian the teacher lost his job to a career teacher who new very little about welding, but because he had seniority they made him the teacher and soon after the welding program at the Livonia Career center was gone.

I'm going back 30 years ago.

[Cgotto6]

Nobody wants to be the best welder in the world, but be 200lbs overweight. Gotta have balance just like everything else. So it's shop and sports of course. Followed up with some hot rodding at home with pops to get some mechanical in there.

[H2o]

Sports bring money and prestige. Shop class does not. That is why. It is BS but reality.

I agree, all HS and colleges should have a shop class as even if you do not go into the trade, you can learn to fix things, and how things go together. It is brilliant. In fact, if we put more money into classes, you probably would have fewer drop outs, lost kids, truancy, crime..... list goes on.

My HS never had shop class. My university did not either. I eventually took a class at a community college in my 30s and there was no looking back. Love welding. Though it is REALLY hard to find a school that teaches shop, automotive, etc classes.

[fjk]

I suppose we could have a big discussion about whether shop or academic classes should be number-1 ... but I agree 100% that sports should not trump either of them.

And you can teach teamwork and all that in shop or academic classes ... you 5 are going to build a thingie together or do a science project together or whatever. You can also teach friendly competition ... which team first diagnoses & fixes the broken engine in auto-mechanics. Or look at the various robot competitions, which combine academic-type skills and shop-type skills.

Sigh

Frank

[ttppoopp]

watch the movie Idiocracy (might be hard for some to stomach) but it's where we are head if we not already there.

[MMW]

A group that is doing something about it.

http://www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org/about-us/

http://www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org/camps/

[USMCPOP]

My boys learned a lot about teamwork and interacting with adult mentors (sometimes difficult) when they were doing the First Robotics stuff in high school. They also learned how to come up with an idea, then fabricate it and make it work (or not).

One thing First Robotics pushed was the idea of "gracious professionalism". It was a competition but you were fair and helped other competitors. The goal was to learn and experience, not necessarily win at any cost.