Posted by Arthur (in NY) on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 10:31AM :
In Reply to: good article posted by Bruce B. on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 10:23PM :
My friend Larry, an industrial arts teacher in a neighboring high school, says that he has been advised that once he retires in 4 years, the school will cease to offer industrial arts classes ("shop", to us old guys).
Right now, he focuses on small engine rebuilding, and automotive topics, so that he keep the little SOB's attention. The school population is half lazy, sullen white kids, who can't learn, and half minority kids, who need a basic skill to earn a living, and who are eager to know how to rebuild lawn mowers, chain saws, etc, because they realize that those pieces of machinery (and the people who operate them) will always be in demand in the fashionable Hamptons.
Larry says they have no plans to replace him when he retires, and that the entire shop will be eliminated - books, videos, machinery, tools, and especially - him. It's a sad commentary on the way our society is heading.