On Tue, 11 Aug 2020 17:36:39 +1000, "%%" wrote:



"T" wrote in message ...
On 2020-08-10 23:52, %% wrote:


"rbowman" wrote in message
...
On 08/10/2020 12:36 PM, %% wrote:
Yeah, another mate of mine can't even work out how to
use the most basic 4 function calculator, but is a great
mechanic and does a lot of work land clearing using
****ing great Steiger tractors that are as big as a house.

I had a plant maintenance guy who was illiterate. I got a hint when he
hung an electrical panel upside down despite the 'This Side Up' sticker.

I sent him to the rental place to pick up a powder actuated tool (Hilti)
for a conduit run we were hanging. He came back without it. There was a
10 question written test about basic safety and that was a no go. I went
down, filled out the form, came back with the Hilti, and he proceeded to
run conduit. He could even bend conduit with a Hickey (conduit bender)
and have it come out right. I usually wound up with a mirror image of
what I really wanted.

That's a different issue to someone who decides that they
won't be taught anything useful in the last couple of years
of high school and who choose to start working instead.

I was not taught a whole lot of useful things in either Hi Skool or
University either. Some though.

Quite a bit of what I was taught in high school
was useful but I do have two uni degrees.

Not much of the research MSc has been much
use but it did get me into computers back when
it wasn’t possible to have your own computer.

What my degree(s) proves is that I am willing to take on
a long term project that involves considerable personal
hardship (skool sucks) and see it though to the end.

But it makes no sense to only employ those with
degrees when you need an electrician, plumber,
hair dresser, cook, manager, mechanic, builder etc.

That is exactly what Bowman is looking for.

Its actually Ed and he isnt actually looking for that,
anyone who completes high school is all he requires
and with the modern system of everyone who shows
up every day when they arent sick gets to graduate, that
requirement only shows that they will turn up every day.

I've been talking to a few concrete contractors recently and they tell me
their number one crew issue is finding people who will show up every day.
They all want to get paid, in cash, at the end of each day, which is kind
of a disincentive to keep showing up. Once the cash runs out, they want to
work again.

The second issue is people who say they want to work, but they don't drive
for whatever reason. No car, no license, etc., so someone has to swing by
and pick them up.

The third issue they mentioned was people who aren't curious and don't ask
questions. They'll do what they're told, but they don't ask why and they
don't try to understand the reasons for doing things a certain way, let
alone trying to find better ways. They just do as their told, with varying
degrees of success.

As for the current discussion, I come down on the side of stay in school.
Get a college degree, if possible. Someone with a HS diploma and a college
degree tends to be much better prepared for life's challenges. There are
exceptions, but they're exceptions.