what he said. most of the "new" guys haven't ever seen a set of points much less a carb.... btw, IF you think working on the new cars is so damn easy and ALL you need is a scanner....
I substitute taught for several months out of college, and one of my first assignments was the highschool Autoshop class. When I signed in that morning, the woman in the office was aghast that they would give me THAT class of boys for one of my first assignments. "Please don't think all the classes are going to be like that...most of them are very good, so please don't let this make you not want to be a substitute." Damn... I got in there, pulled out a stack of car magazines, and was instantly respected. I was babysitting, but I was asked back to do that class many times after. The electronics and fuel injection will be the rough part. However, there's a whole lot to cars and trucks--chassis, suspension, transmissions, engine building, cooling systems, brakes...That kind of stuff will be more enjoyable for you, and the EFI and electronics will not. Overall, I'd say it's a good trade off. You should do it. And start the first week of ever year screening World's Fastest Indian. Four days doing the stuff you HAVE to, Friday is Race Cars with Carburetors day. -Brad
Didn't he say he would be doing small engine tech? Flatheads would count,right? LOL This country has almost abandoned the non-college bound youth to Walmart, the military* and the fast food joints. I'm for anybody who will take the time and patience to teach basic skills. There is a growing shortage of skilled mechanical systems workers in hospitals, manufacturing plants (what's left anyway), and public facilities. I'd get a guarantee of job continuation if the budget gets cut on tech programs. *Not knocking the military - It's just not right for everybody.
I guess I'll chime in, I teach Collision Repair at the local vo-tech. You already have the teaching experience and hopefully some classroom management skills, but you have to keep in mind that the kids you will have in auto-tech are not the same ones that you teach history to. Since you are already teaching you know how highschool kids act already and that can be a bigger challenge when you have them in a shop enviroment. I have my kids for a half day in the Am and Pm for three years, that's alot of time with these kids, you'll know far more about them then thier parents do. This alone can be a big burden. As far as thinking that you'll have this classfull of young hotrodder hopefuls that you can mold into the next greatest thing...think again. Most of the kids you train will not go into that field for a living or even a hobby. With that being said, you will get to some of them and hopefully make a great impact on thier lives. These will be the ones that stop in every year to see what's up, the ones you'll see at the dealership moving right to the top. Kids today, for the most part have no attention to detail, as I'm sure you know, plus they don't really care about anything. If you keep all of these things in mind and still make the decision to teach shop...then you will do well with it. One more thing, don't count on all the free labor, if you're like me you won't let the kids touch anything of great value that is yours, unless you are demonstrating(doing) the procedure. Ahve fun with it, you'll make the right choice.
I would say go for it. If you are worried about the new technology in cars then take some courses. Courses on the "main stream" tech like anti-lock brakes sysytems and SRS systems. If the school's budget is good like you say they may be ok with that. You could go during the summer.
According to the administration, the class and the budget are secure and not in jeopardy. Being I have tenure if something were to happen to the class I believe they would have to find a spot for me and bump a person with less experience. Next year will be my 12 year teaching. I think my classroom management skill are very good. The Exploring Tech. class that I have taught during this time was basically woodworking, casting, drafting, etc. so I do have considerable experience with kids in a shop environment. I believe I have a very good understand of the basics and concepts and could bone up on any new tech. I dont have a good handle on. All in all, I think its a go... Thanks for the advise so far and keep it coming (kinda like bringing a friend along when you buy a car to help filter your "rose colored glasses" )
Dan I work for the Abilene Independent School district here in Texas. We are trying to get a bond passed so we can build a 22 million dollar Tech high school. Encompassing auto mechanics as well as computers(my field) and other votech type classes. Our director is telling us that in the next 10 years these kinds of skill will be in more demand than those other skill that require a 4 year degree. There is no chance right no that they will do away with these programs. We are discovering that an auto painter can earn more in a year than a 4 year degreed white collar worker. I am going back to school this year so I can get a teaching certificate so I can go to the new high school and teach. Go for it!
If you love cars, and your like to teach do it. Your love for cars will be contagious! Remember sometimes kids end up in shop class because they are seen as trouble makers, the real problem is they are not challeged. You will have areal opportunity to impact the kids that are tossed aside not realizing that their skills are a real gift. I am sure a lot of the guys on this board were trouble makers in class , well at least the leadsled crowd, and initally thought shop was just a place to create havick. Sooner or later something clicked and they realized that not everyone can work on cars!
PM toadfrog here on the HAMB. He has owned his own business for years, but this year he applied for and was hired to teach the auto body class at the local high school. The work done by his students has been featured in both the Conway and Little Rock newspapers. He has those kids fired up
man, thats my dream job... other than hotrod shop owner, professional surfer or porn star. you suck. good luck... i hope you get the job.
I subbed while I was finishing my masters at age 50. Sadly the auto shop at one of the high schools didn't do anything with the cars, even with a few cool projects at hand and all the tools and equipment one would want to teach with. I ended up teaching art in an elementary school ten years ago and found out that I liked to teach. I sometimes wonder why we dont have more vocational studies for kids, especially here in west Texas where there is a serious dearth of skilled workers. I would like to hear how the job goes once you get into it. I like the young kids and the older ones, junior high seems to be riding herd on hormones and "rebellion." I'm not sure if I would like it as much as the art stuff and the freedom that goes with it, so it will be interesting to find out. best of luck, himmelberg
Dan, I've only sold you parts and read some of your posts over the years. I know you are a fireman in the summer and you give a ton. I don't think there could be a more rewarding job. They closed our auto shop the year before I could take it. The guys in that class were the 'burnouts' to most but they always worked their asses off in there. You'll have some dedicated kids (guys and gals) if you take the job. My hat is off to you. If you need anything that I can send to help on a project, let me know.
Go for it and help teach the next generation about cars and tellem cool stories about vintage rods and youll get there imagination going.
I just graduated my auto tech class last week ( High school in the next couple weeks) and if it wasnt for that class i would be paying for college . I already had a pretty good start from my friends dad and that , along with help from the instructor got my friend and I 7th in the nation at ford AAA contest ... Now the dealership i work at is paying for my tuition at osu tech. Anyway YES it would be an exellent opportunity to help some kids out! And he did work us like slaves at no charge too lol , the kids would love to help you on your hotrod im sure
todays kids need someone to show them what its like to be able to maintain,if not hot rod,their cars.show'em there is more to cars than mtv pimp my ride.
I interviewed last night and...took the job! The shop is amazing! The budget is good! The administrators tell me they want the kids doing more stuff, sounds good to me. This program was pretty much built by the ex principal, he had a masters in vocational ed and raced a FED, hardcore motorhead. As of late the program hasnt been living up to the administrations expectations - they want more, they dont view it as a dumping ground. In the assistant principals words "you tell me who you want in there and its done." They tell me the program is currently spinning its wheels but the enthusiasm from the kids is there, they're eager to go. I have a seriously great oppourtunity here. My only dissapointment so far is that the distributor machine that was there 20 years ago when I graduated the program is gone... If anyone has any thoughts, ideas, suggestions please share them with me - I've got a blank slate here and can basically go any direction with this. This is gonna be f'ing awesome... in the words of the principal "the only way you werent getting this job is if you would've walked in here with a dick on your forehead..." I've got great administrative support and those of you in the field (any career for that matter) know how important that is-
anything to keep the vocational arts alive is a bonus in my book. we are losing all the great tips and tricks for those professions. nobody knows how to do these things now since its cheaper to just get a new one from overseas. i'm all for education. if you can reach one kid with a fundamental, we all benefit.
Do it and push all of the import shit out of the shop and fill it with hot rod related gear, pictures, posters. Maybe we can save some of them from an automotive fate worse than death!
Figure out where and why the program went down hill; and then how you can bring it back. Shouldn't be that hard to get another distributer machine.
Go For It! I was offered the opportunity to help out as a part time assistant at my hometown high school for the Auto Tech Inst who taught me when I was in High School. Because of time constraints with our family business I could not take the position. In hindsight I wish I would have done it. Since the Inst who taught me retired the program has been in steady decline.
Sounds like you're stoked!!! I would be also. I remember my auto shop teacher very well. His soultion was almost always "Get a bigger hammer". Nice guy knew next to nothing about cars. But he let us do whatever we wanted, within reason. Good guy, not a mechanic. Keep the kids fired up, they need the guidance, not just on cars, but for life. Also a good way to get your projects done. Keep the fires lit for these kids.
Sounds like the kids just arent getting a chance to do things in there now. Principal tells me "I used to always get invited down there when a kid was starting his engine for the first, havent seen that in years..." He want us to do things and have these things seen by the community, I think I'm sitting in a pretty good postition here-
You and "they" made the right choice. Once you get going contact the local TV station, newspapers, etc and promote your program by showing THE PUBLIC and INDUSTRY what your kids are doing and learning. YOU MUST PROMOTE YOUR PROGRAM - not come in every day and do a great job that nobody knows about. The administration will love you and give you even more $$$ to succeed. Sell, sell, sell your program to those who make the final decisions about its funding and longevity. ALSO MAKE YOUR OWN LONG TERM CAREER PLANS. (I taught highschool "shop" for 33 years and saw many die. Plan ahead.)
Like I said, man... get a chassis! Provided you had the funds, you could put brakes on it and teach 'em about those, teach 'em about suspension, build a motor & transmission, and add a body to teach 'em about bodywork... then you can raffle it off/sell it (parking it at various local grocery stores) for funds to build another the next year! It's good PR, and the community would love it! ~Jason
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