This might come across as a very strange question but is it uncommon to find engineers who did not enjoy school or think highly of the schools that they attended? I have encountered numerous computing and IT types over the years who did not enjoy school or had bad experiences at school but very few electrical or mechanical engineers.
Very good point, but as Andy said in a different post, it is actually more complicated than that. I agree that the home environment makes a difference, but I would like to chip in with some personal experience. My daughter was at the local primary school and, as my wife and I were both working, was then picked up by a childminder who looked after her until one of us was able to get home to pick her up. There was also a nearby boarding school and the fees for having her as a Day Boarder (i.e. attending potentially from 7a.m. to 7p.m. and doing her homework in the school with help from teachers) was no more expensive than the childminder. When she was old enough to start there (Year 3) we therefore moved her there, gaining fantastic school facilities such as swimming pool, horse riding and a vast range of sports in the process, but we noticed within a year that her confidence and social skills had blossomed, far more than just one year older could explain. The home environment had not changed. so that only leaves the school environment to explain the boost.
By the way, I am curious about children holding sufficient knowledge about types of wine that you mention in your final paragraph. Is this something you feel should be taught in state schools?
Also for the benefit of any American readers we should point out that in the UK, Public Schools are very much in the private sector and not the same as Public Schools in USA.
Very good point, but as Andy said in a different post, it is actually more complicated than that. I agree that the home environment makes a difference, but I would like to chip in with some personal experience. My daughter was at the local primary school and, as my wife and I were both working, was then picked up by a childminder who looked after her until one of us was able to get home to pick her up. There was also a nearby boarding school and the fees for having her as a Day Boarder (i.e. attending potentially from 7a.m. to 7p.m. and doing her homework in the school with help from teachers) was no more expensive than the childminder. When she was old enough to start there (Year 3) we therefore moved her there, gaining fantastic school facilities such as swimming pool, horse riding and a vast range of sports in the process, but we noticed within a year that her confidence and social skills had blossomed, far more than just one year older could explain. The home environment had not changed. so that only leaves the school environment to explain the boost.
By the way, I am curious about children holding sufficient knowledge about types of wine that you mention in your final paragraph. Is this something you feel should be taught in state schools?
Also for the benefit of any American readers we should point out that in the UK, Public Schools are very much in the private sector and not the same as Public Schools in USA.
