Re: Less capable electricians
You know, my little 5 year old niece is so smart and incredible. She amazes me with what she knows and has learned at her young age. I think back to when I was a kid and how far behind I was compared to these kids with regards to being able to read and perform add/subtract/multiply and divide. Her ability to letter and draw and her creative skills are so far advanced. I know she goes to kindergarten with a host of kids who are in the same situation as her. I assume the explosion of TV Learning Programs, good teachers at that level and probably a lot more attention given by their parents at those young ages shows they do have the ability to learn. However, when they get a little older is where it all seems to degredate. I stopped by my sister's house one evening on my way home from the office to pick up something for my wife. She was scurrying around because she had to prepare to take my nephew who was a freshman in high school out to play hockey at 11PM. As I was driving home, I thought to myself, when I was a freshman in high school, we did not even think of going out on a school night, never mind going out to play hockey. I got to thinking how that poor kid won't get home until 12:30ish and would then get a few hours sleep before heading to school. I could picture him in the third period, sound asleep on his desk! What is wrong with the picture here? My dad would not ever let me do that. School came first and extra curricular activities were limited to weekends and school vacations. Grades were important also, if I dare to bring home a report card with anything below a C, I got punished and was not allowed to participate in something. I remember having to give up my paper delivery route when I was about 12 or 13. After dinner, I sat at the kitchen table and did my homework which was checked over by either my mother or father. If I failed to do it correctly, they made me do it over again. Hell, I have given assignments for my students to do and most don't even take the time to do them. They have no study habits at all! For that reason, you cannot get them to open a book! I had one foreman say to me a couple of weeks ago, after we were discussing a specification requirement and I asked him if he read the specs, he said "I thought that was what you in the office were supposed to do!" I must tell you I was not happy with that statement. I gave him a quick answer back that "no I don't have time, I'm too busy eating donuts, talking on the telephone and surfing the internet to read the specs! That is why we pay you the big bucks!" I mean come on here! A foreman has got to read the specs and take notes on what it says before he prepares the work. It's too late to change it after it is supposed to be completed! I constantly explain about the $200 four inch square junction box cover! You know that one that keeps showing up on the punch list that should have been put on the box that is 12 feet in the air when the wires were installed! Now two guys have to go back with a 10 foot ladder to put that one cover on to close out that item! Come on guys, common sense! Whatever happen to common sense. You know what goes on in their minds? Perhaps nobody will notice it or such and such should have done it!
