Jack of all trades, master of none

When it comes to training, Chris Grisenthwaite was justified in what he said. (‘Letters’, CM, April).

On a visit to a construction training facility, I asked a motor vehicle lecturer: “Who teaches the plumbers?” His reply was “I do; next question.”

When I asked, “Who teaches the bricklayers,” he gave the same response: “Me.”

At a brand new £1m training centre in a different town, I observed a trainee spreading mortar on an arch centre when attempting to build a segmented arch. The man in charge was a painter and decorator! I have since been telephoning former students of mine to enquire whether or not they were prepared to volunteer their services!

Skills analysis proves that trowel trades have the highest skills content. I recall years ago my colleagues having to ‘de-skill’ secondary modern youngsters who had been taught by handicrafts teachers.