Dean Kamen, Manual Laborers, and You

[dtengineering]

FIRST does spend a lot of time playing up the math, science and academic parts of the competition at the cost of the skills side of things.

But you know, it wouldn't hurt to drop a note to Dean explaining how his comments were heard by your sponsors and mentors.

It may well be that Dean's understanding of "manual labour" is quite different from that of your colleagues. Personally, I would refer to the work of tradespeople as "skilled labour" as opposed to "manual labour". I see manual labour as being paid for how much you sweat... and while there is no doubt that many tradespeople often get dirty and sweaty in the course of their job... they are being paid for what they know. Thats why there is a four year apprenticeship, and why master craftspeople... and general contractors... are worth one heck of a lot more than they were as teenagers. It's not because they have a stronger back... it's because they KNOW more.

And don't even get me started about how much you need to know to be a successful farmer! Heck... just ask any farmer. They are mechanics, accountants, economists, meterologists, biologists and more all rolled into one. Yep, they do some manual labour, but they also punch in GPS coordinates into the autopilot in the air conditioned cab of their tractor, too.

But don't take it from me... write Dean and ask him what he meant.

Jason