The Barnyard
by Marilynne Eichinger
Think STEAM
Recently I read about a pioneer family that homesteaded in Colorado in the 1800sT. he book focused on the life of a ten-year-old who assisted his father erect their prairie home, complete with barn, fences, and sheds. As a youth he watched a dowser use two rods to locate water and then helped dig the family well. The boy had neither time nor need to play with blocks or science apparatus when practical objects had to be assembled and serviced. By living with nature, he became aware of cloud formations and the weather’s impact on planting and harvesting. Cycles of bird migration and birthing habits of lambs and other livestock were part of his domain. During the era of western settlement, construction and farm skills were passed down from father to son. Sewing, preserving, medical and cooking accomplishments went from mother to daughter. In both cases innovation was was a result of multi-generational cooperation.
My partner Ray grew up on the edge of a gravel pit that created similar experiences for him. Since his father owned quarry, at a young age he was taught to crush rocks, fix machines, and even drive tractors. Today he can repair most small engines and is a useful man to have around the house. When we hire contractors to do repairs, Ray watches them attentively, making sure that they do not cut corners and that the work is completed as promised. “Build it right the first time,” he instructs.
Town-raised children have little contact with farming or, as in Ray’s case, gravel mining. My father was a physician and had to trust tradesmen, who were not always trustworthy, to complete work around our house. The contractors my parents hired often had several jobs going at the same time, causing them to jump from one location to the next paying customer, trying to keep all of them satisfied. The company owners were often adept at doublespeak and disguised the limitations of their knowledge. In later years, it always surprised me, when faced with a similar situation, that their bill was rarely discounted. It often took me several years to notice imperfections that would not have been there if the contractor had been upfront about the company’s abilities.
The current generation of children will most likely face a worse situation. I, at least, studied physics, learned a bit about engines and mechanical advantage and was given some practical experience in household management. Home economics and shop courses were part of the curriculum in my day, and as a get in there and mess around type of person those subjects appealed to me.
Since parents are not qualified to pass on these skills to their offspring, it is time for schools to step in. Every child needs to receive a modicum of practical training. A rudimentary understanding of carpentry, electricity, plumbing, small engine repair, automotive care, and personal finances will make life smoother. Shop, art, home economics and music classes need to be added back to the curriculums for academic as well as vocational students. These subjects are intrinsically motivating and often serve as pathways to careers in engineering, the trades, or science, and they have a dual benefit of fostering creativity, curiosity, and problem solving.
So what happens if your offspring are not given a chance to learn these subjects in school? Though parents and grandparents may not be able to show their children how to build a home on the prairie, they can provide an area in their home filled with real tools, blocks, wooden planks, cardboard, pipes, glue and tape. They can give their children small engines, radios, and clocks for dismantling. Visits to construction sites and observing tradespeople at work and hands- on museums can go a long way to stimulate curiosity.
As adults we can encourage educators to think in terms of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) for rounding out curriculum options. My high school physics course led me to a career managing science centers. My art class gave me a hobby that has become a profession in retirement. Cooking classes introduced me to measurement and chemistry as I mixed flavors, colors and textures, leaving me with surprising concoctions to sample. I thank my old school and my parents for the opportunities they gave me, and for inspiring my curiosity about everyday objects.
Art work can be seen at eichingerfineart.com. All work is for sale.
