[Jewelry making - Article 00116] - Re: [Orchid] Self taught Vs Formal training

[Richard Hart]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

>     I don't require anyone else to tell me that their method is more
>     correct than what I have arrived at on my own over many many ounces
>     of trial and error, or carats of stones that had to be repolished
>     or recut or just tossed into a pile of rejects You seem to have made
>     my point for me. 

    "your vanity and narcissism" 

    Narcissism in one context is a clinical diagnosis by a mental health
    professional, in another context it might be used as a defense,
    possibly when someone is feeling helpless or out of control. 

>     as does your invalidation of the writers of books..or the
>     assertion that they are somehow less than " right".I don't recall
>     seeing your name in any bibliographies

    I had a discussion about this thread with an American who trained in
    Germany, who has taught for 30 years, and has written two books, and
    his opinion was that not all the information in the books is accurate.

    In Germany there is a process that is similar to getting a Phd. in
    America. Classes, hands on experience, studying design, learning the
    basics, an internship or apprenticeship, which resulting in a
    knowledgeable individual that can be hired and with more experience
    and training that person can go on their own and be a qualified
    goldsmith. 

>     First- dentists, and Md's are a different realm than a creative
>     application, and one would expect that they would indeed attend
>     school.

    I believe this is a slight, as dentists and doctors can be creative.
    Especially plastic surgeons. I have no idea why formal education
    would be a disadvantage when someone is working with expensive
    materials that can be damaged or ruined, especially when said items
    might belong to someone else. It is just a fact that formal education
    can result in a level of experience and knowledge that can enable an
    individual to get employment that they could not get without
    training. 

    People on this forum question how to get a job with a jeweler, and
    they usually do not have a level of knowledge or skill that makes
    them hireable. This means that the education system is not producing
    people with the skills that are necessary to be successful. Who wants
    to hire someone that took 30 years to self teach themselves? Does not
    sound like a team player. 

    Learning on your own is admirable. But if you want to get somewhere
    quicker, with more tools, be able to start earning more money sooner,
    to know what is the right way to do things, education is the way
    regardless of what the subject is. 

    I know that some teachers are better than others. Perhaps there would
    be better teachers in the U.S. if there was a education system for
    metalsmithing like they have in Europe. Result would be people who can
    gain employment after training, which I believeis the result of
    formal training in Europe. 

    I would further pose a question. Are there more hack jewelers that
    are self trained or more hack jewelers that come out of formal
    training. It is simple, one cannot do things right unless they know
    what is right. With formal education there is a greater chance of
    success faster. 

    Over 30 years I have seen a lot of work by self taught jewelers. I
    politely ask where they learned their craft. They say proudly they
    are self taught. Duh! 

    One sign of narcissism might be who writes the most about themselves,
    what they did, and who said what about them. 

    "It's good to be king, if just for a while..." Tom Petty

Richard Hart


 
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________