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What's frustrating is how many posts ask for help or advice, but lack basic information about their cars. Whether it's mileage, condition or even a bit of background on what preceded their problems- many posts just assume we know the answers. Whether this a symptom of a new generation coming to grips with their first car, or older owners simply being embarrassed by screwing up their own cars, it's become a common practice to just ask the question(s). .
I grew up in Silicon Valley and not one of the High Schools in that area still actively teaches shop/autoshop. Meaning, no carpentry, no welding, machining, autobody repair, or auto repair. This was once taught in the High Schools surrounding my area, but unfortunately the budget was taken from these very excellent "life skill" learning courses and placed into arts programs. Such as acting, painting, photography, drawing, and dance. The only practical "skills" courses available at my High School when I graduated in the early 2000s, were computer classes such as A+, CAD, and some basic programming classes. Nearly all other electives were what I would consider "liberal arts."
The good news is that not all Districts are like this. Depending on where you live, there could still be a thriving trade-skill based learning curriculum available in the local High Schools.
-Icer
We've been in SE MI for about 2 years now, and both our current district in MI and previous district in IL had decent shop/trade class offerings. Here in MI, our district works with neighboring districts so that there is a good variety of skilled trade classes - the students can go between districts for a particular coursework in which they have an interest. We have a small airport nearby, and there are classes/training related to that, fire/paramedics, auto technician, cyber security, etc. Back in IL, the district had a full auto shop, an offering for courses that led to a CDL with graduation from high school, CNC training, etc.
Both of these districts are just over 50 miles from their nearest big city (Detroit and Chicago). I think that perspective helps keep these course offerings available there.
Thanks for the perspectives guys. And please, don't anyone believe that I'm basing a "complete education" on the availability (or unavailability as it were) on having a shop curriculum as I realize that I grew up in a different age when there were shops of every type, classes in "Home Economics" (or as a good FEMALE friend once said to me, you mean the "Put on a damm apron and bake me some cookies, woman! classes" ).
I only asked the question because it seems to me that anyone who wants to work on, modify, fix their own cars, would benefit from some basic Automotive How-To. Again, not baggin' on people for NOT doing so - especially since it isn't necessarily offered - but it seems it would make life so much easier if they did take a course or two, maybe at the local community college or something. Oh, and by the way, I myself took Auto Shop AFTER I teknicully gradjumakated from Hy skool. I needed two units to grad a semester early. Hahahaha. But ya, best thing I ever did for a car fiend like me. (The rest I learned OTJ.)
Maybe I should create a "Basic Auto Shop Class" curriculum on YouTube.... Hahahahahaha. "Now class, today, we are going to learn about the importance of oil changes with a short preview of my next class: "Opposite lock and OBD-II are your friends." Yuk yuk yuk.....
EDIT: Oh, and my own now-adult kids never had such curriculum available to them.... and driver's education wasn't offered either - that had to be purchased outside through private lessons(!).... my contribution to that part of their education was post-license-obtained driver's school. Only way I let my kids both drive Zs. (And both of which are graduating OUT of them into new, dealer maintained performance sedans; types TBD.)
Also, my HS had auto shop, but I took the material science class instead, mostly because the teacher was great and loved what he did (fun fact: he was also the first Nissan master tech in the US and drove a Z32, and now travels the states giving speeches at teaching clinics). The shop had a few bays, and the MS class had large ovens, a melting furnace for Al, media cabinet, casting tools, and a bunch of other cool sh*t. The district also had a separate 'Skills Center' facility with a bunch of different programs ie robotics, auto mechanics, welding, woodshop, machining etc, though it was mostly an alternative school for kids at risk of dropping out. It was great.
Last edited by SpartaEvolution; Aug 8, 2018 at 02:28 PM.
Sparta - did you go to high school in Redmond? In Kirkland, the only thing they offered was Architecture and Photography, so I got a job at a garage to learn from actual working mechanics.
Sparta - did you go to high school in Redmond? In Kirkland, the only thing they offered was Architecture and Photography, so I got a job at a garage to learn from actual working mechanics.
Nah, Olympia. I went to Olympia HS, and the tech school was called the New Market Skills Center in Tumwater.
Last edited by SpartaEvolution; Aug 10, 2018 at 03:01 PM.
Reason: New Market is two words
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