Why have high schools stopped teaching industrial arts?

The Decline of Industrial Arts in High Schools

In an era where technology and high academic performance have taken precedence, the dwindling emphasis on industrial arts in high school education is a development that has left people like me rather perplexed. As a father of two endlessly curious children, Fergus and Prudence, and a proud pet owner of a crafty Bearded Dragon named Picasso, I've come to recognize the insurmountable importance of hands-on learning. Building, designing, and creating tangible products not only stimulates creative thinking but also fosters a sense of productivity and achievement that certainly cannot be undermined.

So, the question arises - why have high schools stopped teaching industrial arts? I may not be an education expert, but as a caring parent and a passionate blogger, I’ll try to dissect the reasons behind this shift and perhaps shed some light on the importance of reinstating such education.

The Era of Academic Specialization

The world has seen a paradigm shift towards academic specialization where students are encouraged to focus more on core subjects, with a relentless push towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects. Schools seem to be assimilating the belief that the road to a lucrative career is paved with qualifications in these specialized fields, often eclipsing the importance of skills-based learning like industrial arts.

Remember when Zelda, my clever spouse, decided to teach Fergus about ancient civilizations by helping him create his own clay pottery much akin to the ones from the Indus Valley? Not only did pottery satiate his inquisitive spirit, but he also acquired a newfound appreciation for history that no textbook could have achieved.

The Neglect of Skill-Building Practices

The demise of industrial arts such as woodworking, metalworking, auto repair, and home economics is much of a stark contrast to our education system's objective - preparing children for adulthood. While acing calculus or molecular biology certainly fetches browny points with the career gods, I cannot stress the significance of learning practical skills.

Funny enough, Picasso, our pet Bearded Dragon, once managed to knock down a small wooden shelf in the living room in one of his exploratory escapades. Who came to the rescue? Fergus! Thanks to his basic carpentry skills acquired from an after-school club, he managed to fix it in no time. It's a small instance, but it's a testament to how industrial arts instill practical problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and even aesthetic sensibility in children.

The Bane of Standardized Testing

Another critical factor seemingly responsible for the slow death of industrial arts in high schools is our society's growing obsession with standardized testing. Schools are under growing pressure to generate students who score high on these tests, leaving little room for subjects that may not contribute directly towards the final score, leading to a consequacious sidelining of industrial arts.

This obsession with homogenizing learning, however, overlooks the variance of multiple intelligences within a classroom. Not all our kids would demonstrate their intelligence through the same cognitive prism. Zelda and I noticed that with our own kids - while Prudence excels at mathematics and theoretical insights, Fergus thrives on practical tasks and tangible projects. As parents, we need to campaign for an education system that caters to this multiplicity, rather than suppress it.

Revitalizing Industrial Arts

The need to reinstate industrial arts in high school education is a combination of all these facets. It’s not only about fostering creativity or critical thinking, but it’s also about preparing our children for the real world, teaching them tangible skills that also contribute to their mental and emotional development. The advocacy for an all-rounded education is crucial; each child has a unique way of learning, and what better way to nourish it than reinstating the practical and skill-based learning they truly deserve.

Let us reconsider the value imparted by industrial arts - the ability to create, innovate and solve real-world problems with one's hands. As studies have suggested, students who participate in such courses are more likely to succeed in their academic subjects, as industrial arts foster a deeper understanding of concepts by connecting theory with practice.

As I reminisce about the days when I first learned to carve a piece of wood into a miniature canoe in my own industrial arts class, I truly wish our kids continue to walk down the same path of experiential learning. For such truly are the lessons that stick with you, molding not just good students, but effective and multifaceted human beings.