Posted on 08/25/2019 1:44:42 AM PDT by NorseViking
“the schools require and provide computers now.
Big mistake.
Paper until 18 is my guideline”
Yea, absolutely. No one under 45 years old used a computer to get through school and we all survived.
A fun question to ask teachers, for those who actually subject their kids to public schools or otherwise know school teachers, is what is the basis for going to computers? In other words, what studies have been shown to prove they help kids learn?
They won’t give you any, because like everything else in ‘education’ for at least the past 50 years, studies aren’t needed to justify drastic changes for millions of kids...in their warped minds.
And, by the way, walk into an educational situation where, unlike our government schools, kids are REQUIRED to learn or they get shut down - a Kumon or Sylvan Learning Center and count the number of kids on computers (hint, you won’t need any fingers to add them up).
A whole lot of tail-end boomers are on the verge or retiring in the next several years.
They are doing much of the blue-collar hand-work today, with experience, knowledge and skills that took decades to master. Many are quite technical, learned by OJT. They’re keeping a great many things working all over the place.
It’ll be interesting to see how our younger ones fill those many voids, with the scarcity of shop classes, voc-ed, trade schools and apprenticeships the last several decades.
wow
I chose McDonalds as the example becaust it is one of America’s best corporations, but perhaps Wendy’s or Chick Filet would serve the purpose as well.
McDonalds As School
Go to work for McDonalds and consider it as going to school. Rather than come up with a bunch of bucks for tuition, Get a job at MD and pay extreme attention to what is taking place. Get paid for your efforts in the process. Set a limit. Go one year or maybe a year and a half. Be dedicated to the task the same as if you were paying thousands of dollars at a college.
The concept involves looking at McDonalds as an industrial microcosm . McDonalds is very much like a factory with hundreds of employees except smaller. MD also has a retail arm in addition to the manufacturing arm. To grasp how things are done in the manufacturing and business world, MD is small enough to observe all the operations that can be studied in detail and the study extrapolated to the world. MD is chosen because it is truly a global company and one if not the very best successful business to be studied.
The big question, the goal of the going to MD as school, is to discover in detail what is MD? Why does it exist?
As a study aid, a laptop computer would be beneficial. The computer can be used to keep notes and to make and record lists. Homework is making notes and expanding the lists, making entries into the big list of things learned and things to be explored further
Most McDonalds employees don’t flip burgers, they are in sales. At McDonalds if you apply your self and study what is happening you can develop a good understanding of sales and customer service. The front line, the people on the counter, have an opportunity to meet and greet a wide cross section of customers, of people. The very act of asking” how can I help you” engages the customer in a business transaction. The customers can be observed and then studied in the abstract. Make a list. What kinds of customers, what do they want, what do they need, how does MD meet their wants and needs, what wants and needs are not met, should every want and need be met?
https://www.prageru.com/courses/life-studies/i-learned-more-mcdonalds-college
If you clean up, study the various chemicals and cleaners. Read the MSDS documents and learn a lot about OSHA, chemicals and government regulation. Learn what they do and why they do it. Learn why someone made and effort to obtain each of the specific cleaning products. Understand the process and how it relates to government regulations. Learn why MD wants the task not only performed but the reason for doing it. Learn if there is and external requirement such as a local or federal regulation. Learn about the regulation and why it exists. Learn if MD made the rule and how the rule makes the product better.
Somewhere there are posters. The posters are mandated by the government and outline the various employment laws. The posters are the basis for the interaction of business and government. They might seem overly complex and quite boring but they are a major part of the lesson. Study the posters and develop a total understanding of what they mean. Learn how the government and business interact and why.
Hang out with the manager and study and learn the flow of goods. Learn the basics of purchasing. Study the inventory flow and learn how inventory management keeps the company rolling.
A testimonial can be viewed here.
https://www.prageru.com/courses/life-studies/i-learned-more-mcdonalds-college
A typical Mc Donalds store is a mega industry on a micro scale. They obtain raw materials hire labor and manufacture a product to very tight specifications. The process is typical of all manufacturing, only the product, the manufacturing equipment and size are different.
The principles of how raw materials are obtained, moved around, stored, and used apply to all business and manufacturing. A thorough understanding of the various tasks and processes involved will be useful elsewhere. The lessons can be expanded to a basic understanding of product quality and quality control. The business and all the jobs there are absolutely dependent on the quality of the product.
Tight specifications, what are the specifications, where did they come from, why have the specifications, how are they met, who enforces the specifications and assures consistent quality? These are all valuable lessons to be learned in the micro factory. The answers can be learned by paying attention and carefully watching what is actually happening throughout the place.
The subject of raw materials is very important area of study. One of the lists or perhaps several of the lists would be of various raw materials or raw material categories. Just what and how many raw materials is required to keep the place running? A list describing the material, where it comes from and exactly how the material is used can provide extremely valuable insights.
Then there is the matter of human resources. A one year study of the flow of people in and out and retained could result in a master’s degree paper on proper use and abuse of labor resources.
The concept of a crew, a team, can be studied. The crew concept is meant to develop a sense of belonging, of common purpose. A study of how the various individuals of the crew interact and depend on each other will yield an understanding that can be extrapolated to a much larger organization. How success or failure of one individual impacts the mission of the crew provides important lessons.
Then there is cash. A study of cash management could provide a detailed insight into cash, banking and the importance of plastic payments to a small business.
The MD school you choose might be near home or across town but it is merely one of many. A whole different course of study is what happens at and to MD outside the local operation? How does your store relate to a regional and national and global network of stores.
Back to the big question. Why does your school exist? Why do we have MD’s. The answer to that question applies to each and every business and manufacturing operation in the country. The answer is to make the owners a profit. Each and every item on all the various lists that will be developed in the school process is there to assure a profit. Proving that statement is the goal of the school and learning the reasons is the way the proof is obtained
It is all there for free. As a matter of fact one can get paid while at this school. All it takes is a proper frame of mind and a desire. Everything there is something to be learned
An interviewer will be blown out of her shoes when the lessons set out and learned are recounted in extreme detail.
In my day, that was a typical ‘starter job’, common for us that went to work after high school (common also).
There, you got work experience, knowledge and proved yourself a good worker. Then, when you outgrew it, you found a higher-level job. You moved up through the ranks by your work ethic and resume’.
Now, such work is looked down upon by college/university youts. They feel they should enter the workforce at experienced level pay. And why shouldn’t they? They got blue ribbons for just participating.
A fav of mine: https://youtu.be/Sz0o9clVQu8
LOL! Thanks.
I’ve NEVER called a plumber either. Short bus riders can learn plumbing. I did call an electrician once to help me install a secondary 220V service panel.
Good for you. I’ve said that here dozens of times. A trade means one will never starve.
While what you say is true, by thinking of McDonalds as school, as a laboratory, so to speak one can learn all the various aaspects of a manufacturing business. One can have a grasp of what might be a future area of study, a college major selection based on actual hands on facts.
Many here fear indoctrination more than they value education. I know all about bootstrap job experience and advancement. However for a relatively intlligent kid, formal education should not be shunned. It’s still possible to have a BS degree and be a plumber....... owner.
Locally,we have a first rate school that combines freshman level basics with trade courses. Nursing, welding computer and IT, HVAC, surveying etc. The associates degree caan be transferred to a university with full credit towards a BS.
The trade courses are heavily supported by regional industry and everyone gets a job on completion of two years if they do not go to university.
“...formal education should not be shunned.”
Agreed, and never said that.
But, the number of 4+ year grads with over $100k of debt that can’t get a job in their field is a sad result of educators’ push push pushing everyone into college/university. Seems more of a university growth program.
Spot on, Bob. Thanks.
JoMa
Plumber is the euphemism for all trades. I could not care which one. I am just not paying to have my kids indoctrinated.
JoMa
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