LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Since the writing of the “Mad as Hell” article in the winter issue of The World of Welding, we have received numerous letters, email messages and telephone calls supporting our efforts.  We have published a few of the comments:

Dear President Pratt,

Your article, “I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take It Anymore” in the Winter 2001-02, The World of Welding expresses so well the frustration and sentiment of Career and Technical educators everywhere. Combined with the “Problem Statement: There are Simply Too Few Welders and Welding Engineers” and “The Letter to a Congressman from Robert L. Pavone” you encapsulate the problem that’s insidiously buried in the educational system across our nation ... the absence of the value and dignity of work! Because of the significance of your message, it is my intention to share copies of your article with fellow educators at my place of employment, Schenley High School, Pittsburgh Public Schools and with colleagues at the Association for Career and Technical Education Convention upon my arrival in New Orleans, Wednesday of this week. Please notify me if you find this an unacceptable condition. All of your references, credits, and content will remain intact.

Sincerely,
Van Hughes, Teacher
CAD/Technical Drawing
Technology Education

Phil Pratt,

            Thank you for taking action to correct the actual and perceived problems within the welding industry.  Fixing many of those will likely then solve some of the external problems. 

            Your actions offer simple but effective methods to copy for owners of fabrication shops, construction firms, and engineering firms, union members, and welders.  Individuals can benefit by following your example.  Then their organizations will benefit.

            The success of a few individuals can motivate others.  As a reporter, I would like to tell our readers of initial results.  Such stories may encourage others to action.

Richard Harris, Executive Editor
Welding Design & Fabrication

I am employed as an adult-ed welding instructor at a Vocational-Tech School.  I enjoy my job teaching these young adults and give it my all to help these students get a good job in the welding trade.  However, I feel badly at times when, after graduating from my classes, they return to school and tell me that most employers want only people who have at least 3 years experience and will not even give them a chance.

One example was a young lady who is a very, very good welder and a good person who cannot get a welding job.  Is it because employers do not want to take a chance hiring her because they would have to make different arrangements for bathroom privileges?  It is a shame that these young people give up their hard earned money just to be turned down time and time again.  How can I, as an instructor, help these students and give them the necessary tools to get past this hurdle?

Sincerely, 
Harold Overdorf
Pennsylvania

Dear Sir,

            I received a copy of your article from one of the instructors with whom I work at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, PA.  We have a Technological Studies Magnet that was established in 1983, and is just now getting some of the recognition it deserves for preparing students for a successful future.  I agree wholeheartedly with your reasons for being “mad as hell” because I find myself feeling that way quite often.

            My job is to recruit students to this program, which focuses on electronics and robotics. I cannot tell you how many times I have spoken to parents who would not even come for a tour because “my child is going to college and needs advanced academics to prepare!”  Even some of the teachers in this very building fail to understand the knowledge and applications of academics that are required of our students and they try to steer students away!

            However, I will follow your lesson in future meetings with politicians and industry visitors to our school by preparing a Problem Statement as you did.  I also love the term “Gold Collar Worker”!  My husband is a journeyman electrician Project Foreman, a true Gold Collar Worker, and our younger son has completed his apprenticeship to follow his father’s example and success.  I constantly emphasize to parents the opportunities for success and good salaries that the trades offer, and I have established a strong bond with the IBEW Local #5 to encourage more of our students to apply for the apprenticeship.

            I will use your article in many ways interacting with both students and adults as I continue to discuss the future employment picture here in Pittsburgh and throughout our country.  Thank you for a very enlightening article!

 Sincerely,
Jackie Perhach, Program Manager
Technological Studies Magnet
Schenley High School

Mr. Pratt:

            Kudos for your editorial in the Winter 2002 issue. It is tragically accurate. I have taught Agriculture Science and Technology for 28 years and have watched the steady decline of initiative. I will be writing my legislators as suggested but your problem statement has one serious flaw in it. “government funding for all the above.”

            My quarter century of experience has proven to me that if you want something to be right in the public Ed sector you need to do it yourself. More than 30% of my time and teaching effort goes into funding the experiences that I  want  my  students  to  have or the next generation of technology application. The only real applications of the technology that my students get are made  possible by private sector support of my program and the FFA on a national level. 

            Thanks for the industry magazine.  I will support your campaign.  I expect to see the only success coming out of it coming from industry that needs these kids and the professional technical educators that support and co-work with the industry.

Best regards,
Michael Willliams
AgSciTech Dept.
Gervais High School
Gervais, Oregon

            I received the Winter 2002 issue of "The World of Welding."    Phil Pratt has presented the case for more welders and welding engineers superbly.  More than his ability to get through to meeting people that matter, what impressed me most was to know that "someone still really cares for the hands-on attitude."

            Honestly, there is such a dearth of quality manpower these days and no wonder so.  I guess this is partly because of an attitude problem... why blacken your hands when you can fleece or smooth talk the guys with the money to shell out for you!  The culture of parasitism is rooting itself deeper and the sooner the parasite is nipped, the sooner we will see Phil losing his madness.  And I guess, all those associated with the welding profession owe it to Phil.

With warm regards,
Kumar.B.Iyyer
Mulund(W), Mumbai-400080
India

I’m a former student.  Successfully completed the AWS-CWI Course.  Extremely impressed with HIWT.  Also extremely impressed with Phil Pratt’s  “Mad as Hell”  article  in  Winter,  2001, World of Welding.

Jim Whiting
Mechanicville, New York