- Joined
- Jul 26, 2011
- Messages
- 4,142
Young people,like everyone else,may have it,or just do not.Most people are asleep. I know a 12 year old girl who is already sharper than most 18 year olds. Being left handed helps,as we use both sides of our brains. I did not know that until a doctor told me that recently. My wife is left handed,too. She called B.S. on it until she Googled it. (She doesn't like this doctor,but hasn't really met him).
This 12 year old was at my shop,and drew a perfectly good rabbit on a piece of pine. BUT,she cut it out right on the line,although she had never used a bandsaw,or even seen one.I have seen (supposedly) well trained older GUYS who could not stay within 1/4" of the line!!! Another girl,much older,was frightened to death at the noise the blade made cutting. I have also seen a 37 year old female doing an internship as a furniture conservator. She had a Master's degree,and was frightened to death too by the machine. She did horrible sawing. We had a lot of women from rich families in internship programs in the museum. The 37 year old had NEVER had a job yet! She graduated and got a good job at another museum. After 1 year,she quit and went back to school to study business.I doubt she'll ever amount to anything.
The Master's degree educated guys in the furniture conservation shop can't stay within 1/4" of the line when resawing. The old Latvian who has been there forever can. He has no education,and after over 60 years in the USA(a displaced war refugee),he still can't speak decent English(and he's forgotten his Latvian!),but he does most excellent work. I do not say he is creative,but he can do great work copying parts on antiques with missing pieces. His glue ups are very well thought out,and those younger guys are learning things from him.
I don't mean to sound like I'm deprecating women. These are just examples I have seen. Families I know who have daughters account for 2 of them.The 12 year old beats all of them by a mile,and I wish that she could be my apprentice. But,like so many over achievers,her mother has her day booked full of lessons and other activities that tire her out. I am concerned about her tiredness,too. I have fought it most of my adult life,and the only way I have gotten anything done is by pure hard headedness and real interests in the arts.
This 12 year old was at my shop,and drew a perfectly good rabbit on a piece of pine. BUT,she cut it out right on the line,although she had never used a bandsaw,or even seen one.I have seen (supposedly) well trained older GUYS who could not stay within 1/4" of the line!!! Another girl,much older,was frightened to death at the noise the blade made cutting. I have also seen a 37 year old female doing an internship as a furniture conservator. She had a Master's degree,and was frightened to death too by the machine. She did horrible sawing. We had a lot of women from rich families in internship programs in the museum. The 37 year old had NEVER had a job yet! She graduated and got a good job at another museum. After 1 year,she quit and went back to school to study business.I doubt she'll ever amount to anything.
The Master's degree educated guys in the furniture conservation shop can't stay within 1/4" of the line when resawing. The old Latvian who has been there forever can. He has no education,and after over 60 years in the USA(a displaced war refugee),he still can't speak decent English(and he's forgotten his Latvian!),but he does most excellent work. I do not say he is creative,but he can do great work copying parts on antiques with missing pieces. His glue ups are very well thought out,and those younger guys are learning things from him.
I don't mean to sound like I'm deprecating women. These are just examples I have seen. Families I know who have daughters account for 2 of them.The 12 year old beats all of them by a mile,and I wish that she could be my apprentice. But,like so many over achievers,her mother has her day booked full of lessons and other activities that tire her out. I am concerned about her tiredness,too. I have fought it most of my adult life,and the only way I have gotten anything done is by pure hard headedness and real interests in the arts.
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