Kids making lathes

[Sam Scholz]

Some of the current thinking (that I see) is that, statistically, tertiary educated people are happier, so everyone should be tertiary educated and the nation will be a happier place. So, trade bound people should all study to become engineers. Therefore, the system is set up to push people toward tertiary and trade education, although it LOOKS like a priority (in QLD), is not seen as any real value.
The decision makers seem to have only a very tenuous grasp of the realities of life in this area. eg., for every engineer on a job, there needs to be many many tradesmen.
Education standards are going through the floor, and they don't seem to know why.
Ask a teacher, it's a no-brainer to us.

Sam, Manual Arts teacher in Queensland (ret.)

[Mike K]

Another example of School kids at work during WW2

http://metalworkforums.com/redirect-...62ef0a2431d4eb

[Perry Kitson]

It was quite common to see machine tools that were made during the war sporting "War Finish" markings. Some even went as far as to explain that although it was not their standard finish, all critical fits and tolerances were guaranteed.