We need to bring practical skills back into our schools. Just as every child once participated in Physical Education, every child should have the opportunity to learn basic practical skills before leaving school.
Sewing, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical work, basic mechanics, welding, gardening and simple repairs should form part of the school curriculum for both boys and girls.
Every child should know how to sew on a button, repair a leaking pipe, safely change a plug, paint a wall, use basic tools, understand how a vehicle works and carry out simple household repairs. These are life skills, not just vocational skills.
We have become a society where too many people throw things away because they cannot repair them. At the same time, we complain about the shortage of skilled tradesmen.
Our schools should not only prepare children to sit examinations and obtain academic qualifications. They should prepare them for life.
Bring back practical education. Give our children the opportunity to discover that they may have a talent for working with their hands. A child who does not excel academically may become an excellent electrician, plumber, mechanic, carpenter or tradesman.
Education should teach us not only how to make a living, but also how to live and take care of ourselves.
Gordon Laughlin,
Westmoorings
