I took all the “right” classes in high school. If it wasn’t honors or didn’t offer advanced placement or weighted credit, then it wasn’t considered an option for me. I was lucky to take a digital photography class my junior year, but it didn’t count for anything – it was an elective. If I recall correctly, home ec (onomics) and shop class were part of a six week elective rotation in middle school, which meant that we had to take 2 weeks of three different courses of our choosing. At the time, home ec wasn’t high on my list, and I think I opted out so that I could take art, typing, and some other class I don’t remember. Looking back on this, there are two things that really upset me about this. First off, shop class was promoted to the boys and home ec to the girls. And secondly two weeks? What can one really learn about operating tools in two weeks. I suppose that these days, shop class could be considered too dangerous for middle schoolers, but that is another subject altogether.

Motor skills – that’s what I’m about these days. Last week I spent six hours exercising these skills and screwing down bolts for the lifelines, which requires much twisting of the wrist and pulling of triggers (drill and caulk gun). I spent some time in the garage with my Dad as a child; I knew the difference between a philip’s head screwdriver and a flat head, but it wasn’t until my year in AmeriCorps*NCCC that I really started to learn about the uses of power tools.

So my question is this: what ever happened to shop class and home ec? Sports are an excellent way of acquiring physical motors skills, plus they teach teamwork, but they don’t teach you about the practical applications of tools. And let’s consider the arts here. These skills are also important in crafting and art, which also require hand-eye coordination and a knowledge of tools. Knowing how to construct objects with the use of tools, and knowing which tool or method to use to get a certain result, is part of our species’ advantage over the animal kingdom; it’s one of the characteristics that makes us human. So why is the computer the only tool promoted in our schools?

I have been pondering this for a year now as art has quickly become my favorite pastime and my driving force. It is both challenging and relaxing, meditative, not to mention creativity is such an important asset in our society. So why wasn’t it considered “challenging” enough for me in high school? Maybe I was an arrogant youngster, but I took it to mean that it wasn’t a worthwhile application of my time. In other words, it wouldn’t get me anywhere, like for instance, into college.

I think the most ironic part of high school for me, was that I did attend a school of the arts. Everyday for four years, I took a school bus to another school in our district 30 minutes away to take two classes. But the school didn’t offer fine arts! Instead I faithfully stuck to literary arts (I hate being the center of attention, so theatre was out), where we studied creative writing, literature, and art history and were occasionally allowed to create our own works of art in the style of whatever artist we happened to be studying at the time. Still there was no formal art training involved so I never thought I was any good. How could I when I was comparing myself to the masters??

To bring this conversation back to the boat and the oh-so-important motor skills, it would have been extremely beneficial to have learned at least the basics of drawing at a young age, to have learned how to use a sewing machine, an electric saw, or how to construct useful objects, and to have realized how much I love working with my hands! Plus how much time have I wasted trying to pursue a career in a field that led me to a office job, where I sat in a cubicle staring out the window, wishing I were able create something tangible instead of staring at a computer screen for eight hours a day. I know many people who enjoy and thrive in the corporate environment, but I am NOT one of them.

Although this may sound like a rant, these are just several observations I have made in recent years, looking back on my high school years. I was in no way an underprivileged child. I had many opportunities that other kids didn’t have, made great friends, and learned a great deal at my public high school, which is saying a whole lot. When I came to South Carolina for college, I realized that most of the people with similar educational backgrounds had attended private schools to receive the same type of teaching. However working on the boat has taught me so many useful skills, that I am embarrassed by my former inabilities. Don’t even get me started on survival skills and sustainability!

Boat update:

We have declared Saturday as our tennative departure date from Rockville. Our to-do list has been whittled down to a handful of essential tasks and preparations. Unfortunately I am feeling under-the-weather today (and have been for several days), so I am hoping it will clear itself up and I will be able to enjoy this hard-earned first leg. Check out these beautiful people exercising their motor skills and helping us get ready for the departure.