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Dan Allen wrote


>I know that European children have a great edge on American children,
>as they are far more interested in serious math and science than we are.

I wish that was true! In England, universities are closing chemistry
departments due to lack of interest. Those that are doing the hard sciences
at university tend to find work in the financial world, which is less
demanding intellectually and is better paid - something that is no less
true in the US I understand. Engineering in this country (the UK) has
diminished to the point where it is now difficult to do engineering -
firstly because the engineering infrastructure has seriously eroded. For
example, grinding shops used to litter the engineering landscape in this
country, but it is now difficult to find one to do, say, cylindrical
grinding. Secondly, the knowledge base of trained engineers with a thorough
grounding of engineering across the board is literally dying off. The old
five year or even seven year apprenticeships of the 'good old days' are
long gone. The engineering apprentice schools set up to replace 'in house'
apprenticeships are closing down from lack of interest and being replaced
by classes for chefs (mostly boys), tourism (boys and girls) and
hairdressing (mostly girls). Working second hand machine tools in good
condition that used to command high prices can now be picked up for scrap
value. All the serious manufacturing is done in China.

Rant over

Geoffrey Kolbe


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