Page 3 - HIWT Spring 2011 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

IS CURRENT EDUCATION TREND WRONG?

By André Odermatt
President, Hobart Institute

One of the tasks I gave myself
when I started at Hobart
Institute was to review all
student evaluations. These are
forms students complete after
each skill or technical course.
Several others on our staff do
the same and act upon certain
comments. Throughout the
years, I have seen thousands of such evaluations.

One of the questions on the form reads as follows: “What
changes would you recommend to improve the quality of
education obtained at HIWT?”
The phrase, “Time is money,” dates back to a concept
Many times we see remarks about TIME, indicating that of Benjamin Franklin in the 1700’s.
students need more time to complete the courses or that the
courses should be longer. However, I should mention that
it is a relatively small percentage of the total students, who competitiveness in world markets. It is essential to teach
need more time. After all, many thousand welders have been students to respect time as it might be the most valuable thing
taught using our carefully designed and time-tested curricula we possess! Time is worth much more than most of us realize.
and successfully completed the courses. And one never can Unlike other resources, time cannot be purchased or sold,
practice too much when it involves welding. saved and put away, produced or multiplied. It can only be
used. Time is the only resource that cannot be replenished,
What is of concern to me is the trend regarding time. Although, once it is spent! Whether or not we use time, it disappears.
still a small percentage of the total, there is an increasing It is important that we recognize the urgency in what we are
number of students who write that they are given not enough doing and understand the value of time.
time to learn what is expected in a certain time frame. One
student wrote that the speed should be adjusted so the slowest TIME IS MONEY
learner in the class can follow it. This comment actually gave This concept dates back to the ancient Greeks and is not an
me the impetus to write about this subject. I learned from other invention of our modern society. The exact wording of this
sources that this trend is also visible in some high schools phrase, “Time is money,” is credited to Benjamin Franklin
where sometimes the slow learners are accommodated and (1706 – 1790), one of America’s most influential founding
the rest of the class must sacrifice. As is the case of many fathers. He wrote this over 250 years ago in a letter, “Advice
important things in life, schools do not teach how to use time to a Young Tradesman.” Every second has a price, time
intelligently. We are more or less self-taught in how we use has value! Young people must learn and understand the
our time. When I went to school, such action was unthinkable. relationship between time and its value.
Those who could not keep up with the pace and pass the final
yearly exams had to repeat the class while the rest of the I think it is of paramount importance to teach students the
students would advance to the next level. This was standard value of time as well as time management. Students must
practice and was very effective. Is there anything wrong with understand priorities, focus and dedicate their time to achieve
asking the slower learners to study a few extra hours or repeat their goals. As in sports, NO PAIN… NO GAIN. Thomas
a course if needed? Edison (1847–1931), one of the most prolific inventors of all
times declared: “GENIUS IS 1% INSPIRATION, AND 99 %
I will argue that this trend of adjusting curricula to the slowest PERSPIRATION.”
learners is not helpful for students as they grow up and enter
real life! It is also detrimental for our economy and (Continued on page 6)

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