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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2020 7:25:25 GMT
I went to a Grammar School. This was considered an academic school which we entered if we passed an ezam at age 11. Practically everything in the school was academicm Maths, English, History, Geography etc. Absolutely no life skills at all. The sole purpose of the school was to get us into university or college. I don't think I would have got into college if i hadn't gone to the Grammar School so I am grateful for that but I would have liked a few practical courses
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 8, 2020 9:31:52 GMT
Between 8th and 9th grade during summer school [back around 72] I took a practical math course. Balancing a checking account, affirmative. Adding up a grocery bill and calculating the tax, affirmative. Doing a hypothetical tax return, affirmative. All of it done on paper. That was in a US state often considered the 'anus of the South'. As for year-round school, never had it. On the other hand I would read like a demon from about 1966 through the mid-2000s. Really, you guys did all that? In US education? I always assumed we had a very similar curriculum. That session of summer school was almost 48 years ago, meaning a lot has changed.
As I recall my mother wanted to keep me occupied that summer, and she considered me the 'write off' as in destined to amount to nothing. Her idea was that a practical math course would serve me well, which while tedious it did prove useful.
Back in the late 60s and early 70s starting around 7th or 8th grade [depending on the state and school district] it was common where I was in the South to see two different paths offered, one path was vocational for the kids who weren't considered smart enough for college and the other path was academic for the kids deemed intelligent enough to succeed in a college setting. As I recall shop class [for boys] and home economics [for girls] were mandatory for nearly everyone.
My senior year everyone had to take a written 'homemaking' test, all questions about basic stuff around the house from cooking meals to painting the walls. It was so not fun to have the highest score and when presented with a certificate during assembly hearing: "Watch out girls, he's going to take your jobs."
I was on the college track, found it boring, mostly dozed through classes, graduated early, and didn't start college until age 35. I tested out on just about every subject I could because I had already either learned the material in high school, read it on my own, or learned it the hard way, i.e.: learning human psychology through years of 'field observation' can often be less than the safest way to gain the knowledge to test out on the subject with the equivalent of an 'A' range score.
Just think, I'm the dunce of my mother's whelps.
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Post by ronmiller on Mar 8, 2020 13:14:44 GMT
Judith grew up in a bilingual environment. All four grandparents were Hungarian immigrants. Wow. She sounds super interesting, on every level. Extend an invitation from me for her to join us here. It would be an honour to have her. She is indeed pretty interesting, even if I do say so myself (which I do). Her artistic forte is making things. She majored in ceramics and sculpture in college. For the past 30-odd years she has had a business creating window treatments and suchlike for local interior decorators. She also very much likes working with wood (our garage is her workshop). She built our new kitchen entirely herself, including the tilework and cabinetry. For many years, she really enjoyed costuming at various science fiction conventions (what is now called cosplay). I should post some of those. When we worked on Dune and Total Recall, she was a model maker, responsible for prototype sets, spacecraft, etc. Here she is, designing the Guild Navigator for Dune...
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 8, 2020 16:32:39 GMT
Ron,
You got lucky. Woodworking takes a lot of focused talent, especially with many of the exotic varieties. Working with zebra wood in particular.
Just for grins, which one of you cooks?
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Post by ronmiller on Mar 8, 2020 17:30:12 GMT
Ron, You got lucky. Woodworking takes a lot of focused talent, especially with many of the exotic varieties. Working with zebra wood in particular. Just for grins, which one of you cooks? Judith does. It's one of her life's great passions ("Food is love." she says). She designed her kitchen to be her ideal workspace...including two built-in bookcases with something like 500 cookbooks! Most of the artwork in the kitchen (she probably has the only kitchen around here that does have art hanging) is Mexican, especially things representing Day of the Dead. Here is a shot of about half of the kitchen...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2020 18:29:26 GMT
Really, you guys did all that? In US education? I always assumed we had a very similar curriculum. That session of summer school was almost 48 years ago, meaning a lot has changed.
As I recall my mother wanted to keep me occupied that summer, and she considered me the 'write off' as in destined to amount to nothing. Her idea was that a practical math course would serve me well, which while tedious it did prove useful.
Back in the late 60s and early 70s starting around 7th or 8th grade [depending on the state and school district] it was common where I was in the South to see two different paths offered, one path was vocational for the kids who weren't considered smart enough for college and the other path was academic for the kids deemed intelligent enough to succeed in a college setting. As I recall shop class [for boys] and home economics [for girls] were mandatory for nearly everyone.
My senior year everyone had to take a written 'homemaking' test, all questions about basic stuff around the house from cooking meals to painting the walls. It was so not fun to have the highest score and when presented with a certificate during assembly hearing: "Watch out girls, he's going to take your jobs."
I was on the college track, found it boring, mostly dozed through classes, graduated early, and didn't start college until age 35. I tested out on just about every subject I could because I had already either learned the material in high school, read it on my own, or learned it the hard way, i.e.: learning human psychology through years of 'field observation' can often be less than the safest way to gain the knowledge to test out on the subject with the equivalent of an 'A' range score.
Just think, I'm the dunce of my mother's whelps.
It sounds unreal, like out of the Mad Men tv series, or, another century altogether, and to think, it was only a few decades ago. And yes, extremely funny; a homemaking test?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2020 18:31:38 GMT
Wow. She sounds super interesting, on every level. Extend an invitation from me for her to join us here. It would be an honour to have her. She is indeed pretty interesting, even if I do say so myself (which I do). Her artistic forte is making things. She majored in ceramics and sculpture in college. For the past 30-odd years she has had a business creating window treatments and suchlike for local interior decorators. She also very much likes working with wood (our garage is her workshop). She built our new kitchen entirely herself, including the tilework and cabinetry. For many years, she really enjoyed costuming at various science fiction conventions (what is now called cosplay). I should post some of those. When we worked on Dune and Total Recall, she was a model maker, responsible for prototype sets, spacecraft, etc. Here she is, designing the Guild Navigator for Dune... I believe I saw pictures of her at the science convention years ago, and they were so impressive that they never left my mind. You should post a few for our fellow writers.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2020 18:36:04 GMT
I went to a Grammar School. This was considered an academic school which we entered if we passed an ezam at age 11. Practically everything in the school was academicm Maths, English, History, Geography etc. Absolutely no life skills at all. The sole purpose of the school was to get us into university or college. I don't think I would have got into college if i hadn't gone to the Grammar School so I am grateful for that but I would have liked a few practical courses On top of all that cooking and sewing and metal and woodwork class, I went to Sunday school where we learnt needlework. Needlework! and women's skirt-making and odd painting on cloth and we argued with the teacher telling the poor lady women were stronger than men. I regret driving her crazy since years later I became a teacher and boy did I pay.
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Post by ronmiller on Mar 8, 2020 19:04:05 GMT
She is indeed pretty interesting, even if I do say so myself (which I do). Her artistic forte is making things. She majored in ceramics and sculpture in college. For the past 30-odd years she has had a business creating window treatments and suchlike for local interior decorators. She also very much likes working with wood (our garage is her workshop). She built our new kitchen entirely herself, including the tilework and cabinetry. For many years, she really enjoyed costuming at various science fiction conventions (what is now called cosplay). I should post some of those. When we worked on Dune and Total Recall, she was a model maker, responsible for prototype sets, spacecraft, etc. Here she is, designing the Guild Navigator for Dune... I believe I saw pictures of her at the science convention years ago, and they were so impressive that they never left my mind. You should post a few for our fellow writers. Well, I am sure she'd be very flattered when she hears what you said! If you think anyone would be interested, here she is as her alter ego, "Captain Judikha of the Vortex Patrol"...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2020 23:04:21 GMT
I believe I saw pictures of her at the science convention years ago, and they were so impressive that they never left my mind. You should post a few for our fellow writers. Well, I am sure she'd be very flattered when she hears what you said! If you think anyone would be interested, here she is as her alter ego, "Captain Judikha of the Vortex Patrol"... View Attachment View Attachment View AttachmentA knockout.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 8, 2020 23:34:58 GMT
That session of summer school was almost 48 years ago, meaning a lot has changed.
As I recall my mother wanted to keep me occupied that summer, and she considered me the 'write off' as in destined to amount to nothing. Her idea was that a practical math course would serve me well, which while tedious it did prove useful.
Back in the late 60s and early 70s starting around 7th or 8th grade [depending on the state and school district] it was common where I was in the South to see two different paths offered, one path was vocational for the kids who weren't considered smart enough for college and the other path was academic for the kids deemed intelligent enough to succeed in a college setting. As I recall shop class [for boys] and home economics [for girls] were mandatory for nearly everyone.
My senior year everyone had to take a written 'homemaking' test, all questions about basic stuff around the house from cooking meals to painting the walls. It was so not fun to have the highest score and when presented with a certificate during assembly hearing: "Watch out girls, he's going to take your jobs."
I was on the college track, found it boring, mostly dozed through classes, graduated early, and didn't start college until age 35. I tested out on just about every subject I could because I had already either learned the material in high school, read it on my own, or learned it the hard way, i.e.: learning human psychology through years of 'field observation' can often be less than the safest way to gain the knowledge to test out on the subject with the equivalent of an 'A' range score.
Just think, I'm the dunce of my mother's whelps.
It sounds unreal, like out of the Mad Men tv series, or, another century altogether, and to think, it was only a few decades ago. And yes, extremely funny; a homemaking test? Maggie,
Aye, a homemaking test. Far from the hardest test I ever took or experienced. And to be true, a very different time in part due to the places. A funny test is an XY getting a definite + reading on a pregnancy test.
Not to cause offense or be offensive, but if your new avatar is a recent foto, gauged by appearance you don't look to be any older than my spouse. Good genetics have you. And I officially feel decrepit.
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Post by ronmiller on Mar 8, 2020 23:55:31 GMT
Well, I am sure she'd be very flattered when she hears what you said! If you think anyone would be interested, here she is as her alter ego, "Captain Judikha of the Vortex Patrol"... A knockout. Thanks! I guess she cleans up well.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 9, 2020 0:06:41 GMT
Ron, You got lucky. Woodworking takes a lot of focused talent, especially with many of the exotic varieties. Working with zebra wood in particular. Just for grins, which one of you cooks? Judith does. It's one of her life's great passions ("Food is love." she says). She designed her kitchen to be her ideal workspace...including two built-in bookcases with something like 500 cookbooks! Most of the artwork in the kitchen (she probably has the only kitchen around here that does have art hanging) is Mexican, especially things representing Day of the Dead. Here is a shot of about half of the kitchen... Ron, you were trebly blessed by all the gods and goddesses from the Time of Legend.
Judith isn't just lovely and an artist, she is what I would term a Renaissance Master of multiple talents.
I, rather we have several Dia de los Muertos skulls and candles in a totally inadequate cooking area, but we make do until we can craft better.
Time for me to suspend the computer, nasty headache from the live-oaks trying to impregnate my sinuses.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2020 4:58:12 GMT
Ron you have a beautiful wife and daughter.
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Post by ronmiller on Mar 9, 2020 12:03:07 GMT
Judith does. It's one of her life's great passions ("Food is love." she says). She designed her kitchen to be her ideal workspace...including two built-in bookcases with something like 500 cookbooks! Most of the artwork in the kitchen (she probably has the only kitchen around here that does have art hanging) is Mexican, especially things representing Day of the Dead. Here is a shot of about half of the kitchen... Ron, you were trebly blessed by all the gods and goddesses from the Time of Legend.
Judith isn't just lovely and an artist, she is what I would term a Renaissance Master of multiple talents.
I, rather we have several Dia de los Muertos skulls and candles in a totally inadequate cooking area, but we make do until we can craft better.
Time for me to suspend the computer, nasty headache from the live-oaks trying to impregnate my sinuses.
Thanks for the nice words! Judith has said that she probably has the only kitchen in the county that is decorated in death. She became fascinated with both Dia de los Muertos and Mexican cooking while we were in Mexico working on Dune. For years she held an annual Day of the Dead dinner at our home. Even her new kitchen is decorated throughout with Mexican tiles. Here is a picture of her laying tiles on the peninsula...
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