Going Back to High School...Again.

About a year and a half ago I took a 6 week welding course at the local high school. It was a lot of fun and the value of what I learned far exceeded the $25 cost.

Well, I went back tonight. This time the school offered a small engine repair class for adults living in the district. Same instructor, same $25. And it's gonna be a lot of fun.

Not only do we get the hands-on experience, the school arranged for each of us to get signed up with the Briggs and Stratton company website to take the same online courses/seminars that their techs take...including testing and certification. I'm not looking for a career change or anything but I'd like to be able to do more than just basic troubleshooting and repair of my small engines. This class will give me that opportunity. And now that I'm almost retired I'll have plenty of time to do it.

Advantages of living in a small, rural community, I guess.

Next spring he's gonna have a basic machine working class. A local guy apparently donated a large mill and lathe to the school. The mill is there but still waiting for the lathe to get moved up here from down south. Can't wait for that.

That's cool, BG.

That's awesome. I was looking into taking a welding class, and it turns out it's mostly welding college that you find. Four years, several thousand dollars. Like you said, I'm not looking for a career change.

Colorado Free University used to have a couple of welding classes. Not free, but around $200 + a shop fee for each.

Not seeing it on their class schedule though.

freeuregistration

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Originally Posted by Irving

That's awesome. I was looking into taking a welding class, and it turns out it's mostly welding college that you find. Four years, several thousand dollars. Like you said, I'm not looking for a career change.

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There are a bunch of lesser priced classes put on by Lincoln electric and general air and there is another school that offers 3 hour class once a week for 6 weeks for around 500 I think

That sounds pretty cool. I might check out what's available around here.

This shop teacher runs a fantastic program. He wrote a grant and got the school a $25k computer controlled plasma cutting table. The kids make stuff and sell it in various places to buy more supplies and tools for the shop classes. He takes kids to various events all over the country. The small engine program allows people in the community to bring their small engines (tillers, mowers, snow blowers and such) into the school for repair. Only cost is for replacement parts. Briggs and Stratton just delivered a dozen brand new engines for the school. The kids are using some of them for learning and are installing/selling some to help fund the program. They have half a house they've built inside the shop...everything except the concrete slab/footers...floor, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, insulation, roof, etc... It's like a cut-away house to demonstrate each step in the building process. The shop teacher also runs the gun club.

That shop teacher sounds like an incredible asset for the kids and community.

Very cool.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

This shop teacher runs a fantastic program. He wrote a grant and got the school a $25k computer controlled plasma cutting table. The kids make stuff and sell it in various places to buy more supplies and tools for the shop classes. He takes kids to various events all over the country. The small engine program allows people in the community to bring their small engines (tillers, mowers, snow blowers and such) into the school for repair. Only cost is for replacement parts. Briggs and Stratton just delivered a dozen brand new engines for the school. The kids are using some of them for learning and are installing/selling some to help fund the program. They have half a house they've built inside the shop...everything except the concrete slab/footers...floor, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, insulation, roof, etc... It's like a cut-away house to demonstrate each step in the building process. The shop teacher also runs the gun club.

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So you are saying your areas Public Indoctrination System is instructing the children to stand on their own and be self-sufficient?
The horror, how dare they.....

Sounds like a great program for the community, and the low cost makes it hard to not sign up if you have the time to do it.

Bailey guns or Billy Madison?

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Originally Posted by SouthPaw

Bailey guns or Billy Madison?

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http://youtu.be/J7HIxqDpJ0Q

The half house is what they have in warehouses to train insurance adjusters.

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Originally Posted by BPTactical

So you are saying your areas Public Indoctrination System is instructing the children to stand on their own and be self-sufficient?
The horror, how dare they.....

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They have their share of that BS in Lewiston. It's just not as pervasive as some other places...especially in the more rural districts.

I'm envious. As near as I can tell, D11 doesn't offer anything but GED programs.
I'm okay with small engines, but my welding is a mess. I need to just spend the $50 and sign up for a class at gen air I think.

I looked into a class at the local community college several years ago. Sure they have welding classes. They are part of programs oriented toward a certificate that will make you employable as w welder and cost thousands of dollars...

Take advantage of the opportunity you have.