A Year at College

[White Room]

Probably for any guys who do plastering so bear with,

Had a mate who popped round with his son to ask some advise about skimming a ceiling which his son had done and was asking for advice, I suggested he was putting the plaster on to soon and the pva was mixing with it and causing him problems, ok I'll pop round and have a look.

Could'nt believe what I saw, he had put the first coat of finish on the previous day let it go off, then expected to put his second on the following day.

The wall to ceiling lines were bulked with finish, the ceiling roses were covered with finish and had not been loosened and it was all over the place, the point is he is going to start his second year at college and what has he learned in his first year.
He just did'nt have a clue, so whats happening with the college training.

I've met guys who have done a short course and they are far better.

Did say I'd pop round when he starts the ceiling again just to give some advise and probably get my hands dusty.:svengo:

 

[DHTiling]

Has he done any practical..? some don't in the first year and it is mainly core subjects like english/maths and then back ground stuff on H&S etc.. with the odd bit theory thrown in..

 

[doug boardley]

 

[mikethetile]

oh dear

 

[White Room]

Has he done any practical..? some don't in the first year and it is mainly core subjects like english/maths and then back ground stuff on H&S etc.. with the odd bit theory thrown in..

I did ask and he said they have a bay to work on to practice the skimming and other works......

They covered rendering, gypsum plaster float and set and skimming ceiling, I also asked what he was covering this year, he did'nt have a clue.

 

[DHTiling]

Not really good enough then is it..

 

[Abstract tiling]

with dave on this 1 nowdays your first year is all your h&s.

 

[doug boardley]

Lou says that most of the students spend the first year sending text messages:yikes:

 

[user123]

Gawd.... frustrating for the kids as well, isn't it...

 

[The D]

i have worked in this system and to be honest it its just rubbish but there are several inherent problems. one is the fact that company's are not taking on new trainees and if they do they do not let the lad cover the performance criteria. and the colleges are only relay there to assess what the students have learned on site.

 

[mikethetile]

I think Dean has made a valid point, we were taught at college and put into practise on site

these days colleges are more continual assesment for signing units off

 

[Peter]

Could be that in his first year he didn't do much actual plastering hence he's not quite grapsed it yet. I know I hardly stuck a tile in my first year on site.

 

[jamie B]

sad story IMO..I remember doing day release during the last year of my apprenticeship (I was at the crossover between papers and C&G ..I got papers but was guienee pig for the firms college program!) and to be brutally honest I learnt sweet FA at college..I'm sure the huge chunk of H&S they must cover now eats into practical work, making it even worse!
I've said it before and I'll say it again..there's no such thing as a shortcut to experience unfortunately!..not really that kids fault..just not being shown how to do things properly..that's where WORKING everyday with people who have mastered their trade pays dividends..I mean ..who ever learnt anything at school!?!!:lol:

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

well done mark !! you can knock him in to shape :lol:

 

[White Room]

Some fair comments there, the lad did state that the instructors say they need to get on site for the experiance but no ones taking them on but they should still be learning the basics at college.