Bryan A,
Shop was my favorite class!! I was one that hated academics, but loved doing hands on things. Metal working, drafting, wood shop.......oh and sports
Now as an owner of a machine shop it kills me to see here in Mass MCAS jammed down the kids throats. There are some "hands on" kids who want to learn a trade however the "standards" set forth by this (in my opinion) ridiculous program have now forced more classroom time and a lot less shop time.
We religiously always took 1 or 2 kids out of machine shop at the technical schools. Not anymore, a machinist today out of Voc.. school comes to work with very little knowledge of machining (speeds & feeds, measuring & measurements, material identification, machining science etc....) and the extent of his metal working tools is a calculator. This because he doesn't need tools as he has no shop time.
I truly believe that if they want to hold educational standards then do in directly with the teachers and not through the students. Test the teachers, like in any other job, you don't prove beneficial to the organization, then you're not needed.
Don't jam ancient mid-evil history down a kids throat, and who give a flying leap about Macbeth............
On the other hand I give you a lot of credit as a teacher in dealing with the kids today
