Shop Rats
We are the skilled men and woman that build the world around us. We are the creators of everything man made. Because of our great contributions, our society enjoys many comforts. Without the skills of our talented group, life as we know it would not exist.
Shop Rat Characteristics
- A Shop Rat is a skilled craftsman capable of fine works and is worthy of the title "Artisan."
- A Shop Rat is willing to roll up his sleeves and show initiative.
- A Shop Rat enjoys a challenge.
- A Shop Rat is a problem solver, not a procrastinator.
- A Shop Rat has honor, intelligence, curiosity, and imagination.
- A Shop Rat realizes that every day is an opportunity to learn.
- A Shop Rat is the teacher and the student.
- A Shop Rat is someone you can rely on.
- This nation was built by the hard work of Shop Rats.
- Shop Rats—Seldom Seen but Always There!
What Shop Rats Create
Shop Rats create airplanes, chairs, rockets, satellites, coffee containers, trucks, buildings, cars, garages, bulldozers, cranes, drains, solar panels, engines, tables, stores, stairs, motorcycles, wheelchairs, floors, tools, machines, axles, wheels, toilets, batteries, hovercrafts, boats, jet skis, roads, bridges, skyscrapers, showers and this is just the tip of the iceberg... guess who created the titanic? SHOPRATS!
The Need
Most schools throughout the nation have removed Shop Classes from the curriculum that taught students vital hands on skills and created interest for Skilled Trade careers.
Students have lost interest in hands on hobbies as the youth of our nation are becoming more and more reliant on technology and computers and using their hands less and less.
The perception of hands-on careers has been negative or "less desirable" to the youth of our nation. This negative perception is contributing to the current shortage of skilled workers and with the baby boomers beginning to retire, the skilled trades industry needs programs like this to create the next generation of skilled workers.
The Washington Trade Group predicts that 10 Million baby boomers will be retiring from skilled positions. Who will be filling these positions?
Who will be building the engine for your next car?
Who will you call when your furnace breaks down?
Who will build the addition to your house?
There might still be someone to do these duties, but since these positions will be rare, the costs of these services will increase because of the supply of workers. Many say that these positions are going overseas, but, are you going to send your furnace overseas to get it fixed, or are you going to have the addition to your house shipped here from overseas? Of course not, this is why we need to teach the next generation these skills.
"Skilled Labor Shortages will cost individual companies an average of 50 million dollars over the next 5 years". -Advanced Technology Services
Not only will we have shortages in labor, but the customers of retailers that market to hands on consumers will be affected. Popular Home Improvement companies will be negatively affected because of the loss of interest in hands on hobbies.
See how the Shop Rat Foundation is addressing this need.
