I recently had the opportunity to install computer systems in a private
school, and the only available time was during classes. As I went about my
business during a 4th grade science class the teacher was asking the
students what they had planned for their science fair projects. One young
girl told the teacher "My dad and I built a Heathkit".
The teacher's response: "What's a Heathkit"
Girl: "We built a radio from scratch. We soldered all the parts and
adjusted everything to make it work"
Teacher: "Your science projects need to TEACH you something, not just
follow instructions from a kit..."
At this point I had stopped what I was doing and I listened to the teacher
explain how to select a project from their textbooks.

It appears that the teacher taught this girl and the class some valuable
lessons:
The older generation can't teach us anything about modern electronics, and
there's no need to know these things anyway because...
Theory is useless. Radios are mass produced in China and there are no
adjustments to be made.
Working with your hands means building a cardboard diorama instead of a
working model of someth am interested in all ing.

I am interested in everyone's thoughts about this.
Mike