Be thankful, grateful, patient, charitable, kind, and don’t forget to smile, as it is infectious. God Bless America and Protect Our Military
To be honest, I have learned more than I can fully express. I had some excellent teachers in subjects like Math, Algebra, Trigonometry, Civics, and Physics, as well as numerous Shop class instructors to fill the Study Halls on my yearly dance card. No offense intended, but having attended Catholic school until 8th grade, I knew a few people who could have greatly benefited from some religion and well-directed discipline of a good Sister or two from my youth. Additionally, I didn’t observe much studying going on in Sturdy Hall.
However, I did acquire a significant amount of useful knowledge in carpentry, welding, leatherworking, and the silk-screening process that Catholic School didn’t offer. Catholic schools edge over public education in that if you don’t discipline your child at home, the good Sisters aren’t going to tolerate misbehavior. Let’s face it, they can always expel you to the Public Education System, as states are obligated to teach you pass-or-fail until a certain age. A hard truth but fact.
However, Public Schools, funded by the state, offer so much more, especially if your child is a self-motivated, above-average student, fortunate enough to attend a S.T.E.M. In the same respect, the biggest mistake is that they let Shop Classes go?? I think the future will have plenty of Technology jobs, but not enough Carpenters, Bricklayers, Mechanical Engineers, Masons, Electricians, Plumbers, Steam Fitters, Mechanics, and the like.
I played football for UDHS from ’71 to ’74, and I ran into a few years back in my thirties. This friend now owns his own business and was working for my sister at the time, building a Florida Room. He told me his company was doing well, and although he is a workaholic, he and his wife have a shore home and a mountain home in addition to their house. They have provided their family with a nice life, teaching them the importance of the business meaning of LOE (Level of Effort). He hopes to help them grow into and take over the business someday.
He said I realized back in our day, I wasn’t the sharpest guy when it came to book knowledge, but I could make or build anything with my hands. I would hound teachers of Shop Classes to teach me all they knew to hone my skills. Worked really hard to learn CAD and the math I needed to write and submit bids or contracts, payroll, and to be able to follow my accountant when things got going. Jim M., my friend, I hope you didn’t mind me sharing this truth.
Leave a comment