Young Jhonny has just graduated and recieved his Education Degree. He is excited to make a difference in the public school system. He is even more excited because his teacheable subject is high school shop class. There are limited shop teachers available so he knows he will be in demand. More importantly, he is even more excited to show kids the wonderful world of trades, teach them hands on skills, and possibly guide them towards a career in trades. The idea of assisting a student in starting an apprenticship, graduating with no debt, and have a forfilling career fills his young teacher heart with [[joy|real knowledge]].Young Jhonny lands his first teaching position! He is teaching metalworking at a local high school to various grade levels. He is especially happy because before he became a teacher he completeled a welding apprenticeship. Pefect! A true professional welder teaching kids how to weld. Everyone is a winner. Hurray for the good times [[ahead|recognising experience]]!On his first day of work, young Jhonny meets some of the staff during lunch. He enjoys his conversation with Beverly, the senior science teacher. Beverly share her educational upbringing with Jhonny. She informs him that her Biology degree allowed her to be a higher pay grade while teaching science. Young Jhonny is overjoyed as he is a professional welder teaching metalworking. He can't wait to call Teacher Qualification Services (TQS) and be "bumped" up a pay [[grade|utter disbelief]].As soon as work is done, young Jhonny calls TQS.
//The conversation....//
TQS: Hello, TQS
Jhonny: Hello. I'm a new shop teacher and would like to be put in a higher pay grade because I have completed an apprenticship in welding and am now teaching metalworking.
TQS: No. We don't do that.
Jhonny: No? Can you please elaborate?
TQS: We don't recognise trades training.
Jhonny: You don't recognise trades training for teaching trades?
TQS: No (said in a cold hearted fashion)
Jhonny: Why not?
TQS: We consider it a lower level of learning.
Jhonny: It took me four years to completed my apprenticeship, just like a degree in the academic world. Expect unlike a acaemic degree, it allows me to be a better met
TQS: We only value academics.
Jhonny: You mean to tell me if I had a degree in Art History, you would find that more valuable and would pay me more to be a shop teacher?
TQS: YES
Jhonny sees two options. One, he gives the TQS indivdual a piece of his [[mind|boy that felt good]] or two, [[swallow his pride|taking the long road]]. //The conversation between young Jhonny and TQS contiues...//
Jhonny: That makes no sense. Are all the indivudals working under the TQS born a moron, or did it develop overtime working for this idiotic branch that somehow wiggled its way into education.
TQS: Sir, please lower you voice
//////Jhonny continues a barage of [[insults|still feels good]]//
//Jhonny comes to his [[senses|the reality]]//////The conversation between Jhonny and TQS continues...//
Jhonny: Well that's dispointing. Thank you for the information.\
TQS: Your welcom. Goodbye.
Jhonny: Goodbye.
Jhonny is clearly dispointed that his trades training will not go towards his category pay. However, instead of complaining he looks at his next [[options|back to school]]. //The conversation between Jhonny and TQS continues....//
Jhonny: How about instead of me lowering my voice, you lower your stupidity. There is nothing more beneficial to gaining knowledge as a shop teacher, then completing an apprenticeship in the related trade. The fact that you think a shop teacher with a Geography degree can teach woodworking better then one who has a Red Seal in carpentry is absurd.
TQS: Sir, these are the rules.
[[Little Jhonny continues to blow of steam|get it out of your system]]
[[Little Jhonny hangs up|back to school]]Little Jhonny is beside himself. He realizes that there is nothing he can do so he bids the TQS indivudal on the phone a goodday and begines his search for other options in getting to the higher pay [[category|back to school]].To get to the next pay category, little Jhonny decides to go back to school to get a masters degree. Not surprisingly, this will involve him studying academic literature not related to working with your hands. He does this as he continues working full time teaching children how to work with their hands. Let the nightmare [[begin|taking its toll]]. As little Jhonny enters a masters program and begins completing courses. The system has really taken a toll on him. Not only does a new teacher not get paid well, he is now paying tuition.....again. However, he is determined to tough it out and get his [[masters|the real meaning]].Little Jhonny realizes he has already gone very far with his insults, so what is the harm in going further.
//The conversation between little Jhonny and TQS continues...//
Jhonny: You people in the education system are so cheap, you probably want shop classes removed from schools so you can save some money. Youère probably trying to accomplish this by not paying shop teachers properly in hopes they leave the profession. You can kiss my a## because I am here to [[stay|back to school]].Obiously little Jhonny is looking for a way to get to the next pay grade. But, he left his trade which did pay more. After gathering debt from his education program, and entering more debt from his masters, he refuses to go back to his trade as he wants to show children the power of working with their hands. Besides, there arn't many shop teachers around so if not him there may be no one [[else|light at the end of the tunnel]]....Little Jhonny is now getting closer to completing his masters. Now that he has been a teacher for a few years he has spoken to other shop teachers who have had similar experiences with TQS. Some were told the exact same words. Those words are trades training is considered "lower level learning". How [[disappointing|the future]].Little Jhonny often worries about the future for shop class for kids. There is a lack of teachers (for a variety of reasons), new schools are built without shops, and a general trend of them erasing from schools as they are too expensive and not viewed as important in [[education|conclusion]]. Little Jhonny arrives at school at 6:30am. Other then one custodian's vehicle, his car is the virst one in the parking lot. He fixes an old machine that was giving the students grief yesterday. He does this with the knowledge he gained from working in industry. He has his masters degree, got a pay bump, but is still climbing out of debt. He still loves teaching kids to work with their hands but does not feel appreciated or valued by the educational system.