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Want more people with the builder mindset? Bring back high school and junior high shop classes, along with the obligatory grizzled shop teacher who dispenses c

Want more people with the builder mindset? Bring back high school and junior high shop classes, along with the obligatory grizzled shop teacher who dispenses cautionary tales ("Yeah, I had a student with long hair who leaned over the drill press that way. Scalped herself." "Yeah, I had a student who spilled some molten aluminum in his shoe. Learned to do the Highland Fling without any lessons.") Those used to be available to all students. Now, when they even exist, they're shoved off into "vocation" programs, which in practice serve as a dumping ground for those deemed unfit for a college education (its own form of bigotry... you can't be a skilled machinist, programming CNC tools, or even machining by hand, if you're stupid).

thriftwy 2y ago
Why would you want to do that? Realistically you are not going to manufacture stuff by hand in your life. Having 3D printing shop in every school would be useful but perhaps not that much of a fun. I, for one, never wanted to craft stuff with my hands. Isn't that's what machine does for you.
- Turing_Machine 2y ago
  > Why would you want to do that? The same reason people cook fancy dinners, or knit, or paint -- the desire to create. > I, for one, never wanted to craft stuff with my hands. You're not everybody.
  - thriftwy 2y ago
    You're also not everybody. Have you gone around asking people how much of them will craft anything with their hands without a lot of guidance? I imagine most of the stuff will be collecting dust almost all the time, especially as the safety requirements will preclude students using them without supervision.
    - Turing_Machine 2y ago
      > You're also not everybody. No, of course not. > Have you gone around asking people how much of them will craft anything with their hands without a lot of guidance? I do in fact know dozens of people who knit, paint, cook, engage in home improvement projects, sew, and do many other things with their hands, with essentially zero "guidance". Are you claiming that you do not?
      - thriftwy 2y ago
        Cooking is a nice activity since every dish is unique. Fixing your own home also is. However, trying to manufacture some widgets for sale is a futile activity for most of the people.
        DaSHacka 2y ago
        Why would they have to be sold? Just like the other examples, what's wrong with creating things for yourself to make your life easier? I know many engineers that use their CAD skills to design 3d-printed objects. Not once had they thought of monitizing their creations; they simply use it to make their own lives easier and improve QoL.
        thriftwy 2y ago
        That's why I say I see value in school 3D printing. But not in a school machining shop since that's a very niche skill. You don't need to machine widgets for your home that much, it is a marketable skill with poor market.

thriftwy 2y ago

Why would you want to do that? Realistically you are not going to manufacture stuff by hand in your life. Having 3D printing shop in every school would be useful but perhaps not that much of a fun. I, for one, never wanted to craft stuff with my hands. Isn't that's what machine does for you.

Turing_Machine 2y ago
> Why would you want to do that? The same reason people cook fancy dinners, or knit, or paint -- the desire to create. > I, for one, never wanted to craft stuff with my hands. You're not everybody.
- thriftwy 2y ago
  You're also not everybody. Have you gone around asking people how much of them will craft anything with their hands without a lot of guidance? I imagine most of the stuff will be collecting dust almost all the time, especially as the safety requirements will preclude students using them without supervision.
  - Turing_Machine 2y ago
    > You're also not everybody. No, of course not. > Have you gone around asking people how much of them will craft anything with their hands without a lot of guidance? I do in fact know dozens of people who knit, paint, cook, engage in home improvement projects, sew, and do many other things with their hands, with essentially zero "guidance". Are you claiming that you do not?
    - thriftwy 2y ago
      Cooking is a nice activity since every dish is unique. Fixing your own home also is. However, trying to manufacture some widgets for sale is a futile activity for most of the people.
      - DaSHacka 2y ago
        Why would they have to be sold? Just like the other examples, what's wrong with creating things for yourself to make your life easier? I know many engineers that use their CAD skills to design 3d-printed objects. Not once had they thought of monitizing their creations; they simply use it to make their own lives easier and improve QoL.
        thriftwy 2y ago
        That's why I say I see value in school 3D printing. But not in a school machining shop since that's a very niche skill. You don't need to machine widgets for your home that much, it is a marketable skill with poor market.