So I kinda had a bomb dropped in my lap today.... I've been teaching for 10 years, American History and Exploring Tech. (Junior High shop). I enjoy history but really enjoy the shop class. Mechanics has been a long time passion of mine. I've owned and worked on many different autos, bikes, etc. over the years. I have more than a casual interest and knowledge of mechanical things but am in no way a expert in any area.... Our high school assistant principal called today and offered me the high school auto shop position, I think it would be an intro and an advanced class. According to our Office of Public Instruction my certification in Tech. Ed. qualifies me to teach the auto shop. I have no ASCE certification and my knowledge is basically limited to things with carbs and points - no knowledge of the newer stuff. My teaching methods are very strong and I think I am intelligent enough to learn to new things - I am just unsure if I am getting in over my head here. I know that alot on here probably think I am looking a gift horse in the mouth but I also know that a few of us here teach and would like to hear your thought as well. This might be totally OT but I am living in toppsy turrvy world here and I guess I just need to rattle on for a bit. Thanks for listening and thanks for any adivse you may offer....
get a job as an entry level tech at a dealership over the summer...you'll probably learn all you need to know, if you pester the other techs enough.
Go for it! Being able to have a job that your passionate about combined with the chance to pass on knowledge to the younger generation sounds like a dream come true. Don't pass it up-- Besides, who better than a hamber to teach the class! jp
Go for it. talk to the person teaching the advanced class and see what he would like the kids to know before they get to his class. You will then know what you will need to know to teach the class. just my 2c Good luck
Sounds like a dream come true, but how stable is this position. I only ask because a lot of school systems have cut out many courses such as art, home ec, etc. History teachers are there for the long run. I imagine the auto shop position sounds a lot more rewarding though.
One thing I have learned over the 35 years that I have worked in the manufacturing field. Not a teacher but I see no need to compare either. By taking this approach, I have learn (probably forgotten more) then I could ever imagine. By bullshitting my way initially. I was able to become a nuclear welder at 22 years old, BS'ed my way into robotics in the early 80's to be one of the first guys I know to get into programming and operating them. Bs'd my way into the Quality field 20 years ago in auto manufacturing and 3 yrs ago bs'd my way into a Quality Manager position. All with no college degree. Just a BS degree. And you think you were scared of jumping into something you didnt know?? Never ever ever pass up on an opportunity to improve yourself. Consider this a time for you to learn. Not an opportunity to show everyone what you dont know. Never pass up better money especially if it doesnt effect your quality time at home. Don't think about it........ Just do it. Like any other time...true survivors figure out a way around every problem and make the next step. I'm sure you've taken this approach with mechanics. Just do it.
My shop teacher was a godsend. Mr. Hampton knew tons of stuff, and knew how to teach it to punks. Don't worry about the new tech. Unless they understand the basics, they'll never understand HOW the computer is failing. If they don't know why, they can't even begin to diagnose. Preach that, and dabble in fuel injection, electronics. Besides, if you don't have the new testing equipment, you can't diagnose much anyway. If they know enough to care about fixing newer cars, then a couple textbooks and a OBD II or III reader will get them started. Your job won't be advanced diagnostics 101 anyhow. You'll be fine.
I agree, educate yourself about the things you don't know and step into that opportunity. What you feel you lack in knowledge can be an asset if you play it right. There's nothing wrong with telling your students "I don't know that answer BUT here's a chance for us all to learn together." I had lots more respect for the teacher that said "I don't know - let figure it out together" than I did for the teacher that fed me a line of BS. Plus, once your the shop teacher, you've got access to all that shop equipment. Think about it... late night engine rebuilds, paint booth, welding booth, etc... (drool, drool)
I agree, go for it! See what's avalible at your locall community college to help get you up to speed on the new technology, and read everything you can get your hands on. Remember, you only have to stay 20 min ahead of the students! I've learned more teaching the last few years than I did in the last ten years working on the line!
Sounds like an awesome opportunity to introduce the up and coming students into the wonderful world of building cars. You don't have to get into the computerized later model stuff - your budget will likely only support the dabbling into the older stuff anyway - which can be a godsend when you are 'saving' those students who wouldn't have any other reasons for coming to school. I'd say go for it. And enjoy yourself!
You are looking at an opportunity to teach another generation about cars. While on the surface this may seem off topic, if you look deeper you will see you also have an opportunity to teach the basics and automotive history as well as the newer stuff. How will the next generation ever know the joys of our hobby without learning the basics and some history. It has been my experience if you can teach someone starting with the basics and teach them reasoning skills that you will end up with a Mechanic as opposed to a parts changer. I say go for it, teach them your love of all things mechanical, teach them some automotive history and teach them to reason their way through a diagnosis and you will be doing the world a service. You may even create a few HAMBers for the future. You will learn the newer stuff along the way.
i say go for it as well, if you are intimidated by electronics under todays hoods, go to your local napa, or o'reillys. they have classes for professional mechanics you could probably sit in on. just tell them you situation. if you know how the old stuff works and why, it isn't to bad of a transition. good luck. you can do it, you are a HAMBer
My HS shop teacher was just like my dad, Old timer, New everything could tune an engine with his eyes closed and hands in his pocket. (you know what I mean) I was one of 3 out of over 20 in my auto shop class, who actually got to work on cars instead of sitting in class working on text BS. I was out there and dirty every day, welding or build or working on cars. I even got to go chase parts with the teachers truck, early 60's shortbed stepside Chevy. We had all the newest machines and tools, but did we use them? a few times, did we want to ?? hell no, we were into hot rods and muscle cars, and the occassional old lady who would put tranny fluid in her brake reservoir. WE loved it and learned a hell of alot. Just besure you teach them history and basics first, they will come back begging for more. don't be affraid to show em pics of hot rods etc, and see if you can schedule a field trip to an auto museum or a car show, they will flip out.....
CRAP! I just spent 20 minutes typing you a big long message and lost it... Here's the gist... I was in your same position..... I went from regular education to Woods......love it!!! Does your district offer senority? If you keep your regular certification up to date, and they cut the automotive program, do they have to put you back into the regular classroom? Check on your budget.......you can do a LOT with little if you are creative and spend wisely.... I say go for it... Sorry for the shortness......can't believe I lost all of that!!! If you need anything, PM me and I'll give you my #...
I agree, a little BS followed by schmoozing the folks that can teach you how to the teach the stuff to the kiddos should work just fine. Teachers that are willing to learn new stuff are the ones that kids remember best with fondest memories. Definately keep us up to date on the 2008 school year at your new gig.
Quick study points will put you ahead of the kids, from there you'll progress naturally... Get the texts meant to prep mechanics for those certification tests, then have the school order a new collection of diagnostic code reader machines and read the manuals. If unfamiliar with modern injection, a couple of books on swapping the things into hotrods will teach you on a better general level than repair manuals for individual cars. Your previous experience will be a HUGE advantage in teaching what's behind all those codes and programs.
This is a great opportunity. You can learn along with the kids while you teach it. Its all trial and error. Just get in there take apart a motor with the kids and put it back together and you will learn all you need to know in no time.
Well like everyone else said go for it! my Auto shop teacher was a Illinois farm boy who worked as a mechanic and then became a teacher knew the old stuff well and the new stuff only a little but he was an excellent teacher I had already been building cars(at home with pops) going into his class and I may not have learned as much as I hoped I would but others I know did and are working as ASE techs to this day I was ready to test when I left the field a year ago but was a wrench for 4 years. Also he only let a handful of us do work on our own cars and would let us run to the parts store or take from his stash if needed. I set up my chassis on friday afternoons in class for street racing friday night after work in my chevelle.Graduated his class and that school with a 4.0 GPA. Still stop in to visit himm and am actually due a visit before I leave so Go for it and CHEERS to AUTO SHOP Teachers
Go for it and God bless you. My HS didn't have auto shop. After the first couple semesters, it'll be no prob, and you'll make a huge impact on a bunch of kids that need the outlet.
As one of those "living in a points and condenser world when they don't even have distributors any more". I say go for it. My auto shop teacher was one of the greatest influences in my high school days and if you can teach the basics and build on their interest in things mechanical, you can change lives for the better. The basic engines still go "suck, squeeze, pop, blow" and without learning how it works from the beginning, all we will have in the future are a bunch of compooper geeks.
Answer this question: If the AP had told you you didn't have a job at the junior high next year, BUT there was an opening to teach auto shop at the senior high, what would you do? ANSWER: AUTO SHOP. But keep your history certification and upgrade it to teach high school history since shop classes are rapidly being phased out across the country. Sounds like you will be teaching industrial arts auto shop. Be sure to get a curriculum from your supervisor. If you wanted to teach vocational job prep auto shop you would need to have vocational certification. You will find high school teaching to be very enjoyable. (Hope they give you a decent budget.)
You guys are making some very compelling points...I am tenured so if the program were cut and my cert. is up to date I should be able to be absorbed into the district somewhere, just visited with the outgoing teacher and he was very positive and upbeat, he is leaving to take a counseling position in another school here in town and offered his help if I get stuck. The shop is pretty well equipped, and the program has been quite strong in the past. When I was in shop there (this job is at the same school I graduated from) the program was in good shape. I was sent to the principals office one day in class (not because I mis-behaved but because the principal wanted to explain to me how to advance the cam in my SBC). My friends and I would stop what we were doing on Friday nights to go watch him and our biology teacher time his FED. EVERYTHING in my world is upside down right now - this just thickens the plot...
You can handle it!! The kids these days need the basics....and it's the exact same thing on a brand new car as it is on a flathead V-8. An internal combustion engine needs compression, fuel, and spark......preferrably at the correct time. All the other stuff is just different ways to accomplish the same means. I have 17 techs working for me and half of them can't recite the four strokes of a 4 cycle engine anyway! Teach...teach....teach. If you need techie stuff you can PM me, I'll get you anything GM has.
And another plus: Your ancient tech perspective allows you to show the kids how stuff happens in a way they can see--if you show them, say, a centrifugal/vac advance setup BEFORE they learn about black box timing, they will have an idea what the black box is thinking about...making it more of a gray box...or something.
Have you seen the curriculum guide for the class you have been asked to teach? Are you comfortable with the majority of the material? I agree with Petejoe wholeheartedly though, take the job. Please Please Please teach kids about things like points and carbs and generators. You have no idea how many kids are coming out of "restoration" schools and vocational schools not nothing anything but how to plug a computer in! Kids really need to know the theory behind why things work before they learn present day application. Best of luck!
Remember this. A.S.E. stands for Ask Someone Experienced. During my freshman year in High school, we could only work in the auto shop if we had at least one a.s.e. certification. I had 7 by the end of the first semester. I was FOURTEEN. by the time I graduated, I was not only an a.s.e certified Master Technician, but I was also ICAR gold class certified. funny thing is, I worked primarily on school busses and International Harvester pick up trucks from the late 60's, (I went to a place called Cal Farley's Boys Ranch...sounds nice, right? well...I didn't get there by being a shining example of a lad, I assure you.) point being, what you have on paper means exactly DICK unless you can apply it. So go for it! who the hell else is going to explain to these kids what a carbuerator is? how points ignition works? you know that at least one of your students is a gearhead in the making. steer him to the path of enlightenment and cubic inches of truth!
ABSOLUTELY! So few people understand troubleshooting at a basic level. Constantly amazed at the number of people who know how to make their car spit out trouble codes, but cannot explain what "4 stroke" means. There's no way you'd ever become enough of an expert to cover every vehicle that will roll in. Teaching the research process is every bit as important as the actual wrench stuff. Maybe look for a local garage that's involved in the community. A pro who'd be willing to stop by 6 times a year when you're totally stumped is worth his weight in gold. Go for it.
Why don't you make it a "History of the automobile/hot rodding" class or something like that? Let the information of the HAMB be your guide, there's plenty here. Can you image the line to the counselor's office if you had a Hot Rod History 101 class. That way, you at your "points and carb" level. The new stuff is far from points and carbs. High school kids now are very tuned to turbos, boost pressure, fuel injection, etc. They'll be on to you in a couple days unless your a real quick study. Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide.
I had a great shop teacher. He has a 55 t-bird, and a real 66 shelby mustang. I actually got along with him so well, he came to my graduation party! I'm still friends with him today. Most of the stuff we did in autoshop were the basics anyway (20 yrs ago). I actually ended up bringing the chassis for my 40 into class and did all my brake assignments that are normally done on bench units on it instead. I also did work on teachers vehicles too(oil changes mostly). As well as putting the interior in the teachers 66 shelby (I had a just done my 66 coupe). I like the idea of a lube tech, etc kind of job for the summer. It will at least give you a basic understanding of whats under the hood of most newer cars.
The Jalopy Journal
