Misguided effort
> If a participant decides they want to become a surveyor, all the better.
As far as I know, that would be a first. Please let us know if it ever happens. :>
Misguided effort
> So where should we devote funds and our efforts?
Well, for starters, why not identify an activity that efficiently provides an actual benefit both to the profession and to society? Hmmm?
OK, I'll Bite
Let's hear what YOU have in mind.
Trig-Star purpose
> > If a participant decides they want to become a surveyor, all the better.
>
> As far as I know, that would be a first. Please let us know if it ever happens. :>
"NSPS Sponsored
High School Math Skill Award
The TrigStar Program Contest is an annual high school mathematics competition sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors based on the practical application of Trigonometry. The program recognizes the best students from high schools throughout the nation.
The purpose of the TrigStar Program:
1. To promote the study of trigonometry in high school and to promote excellence in the mastery of trigonometry by honoring the individual student who has demonstrated superior skill among classmates at the High School level.
2. To acquaint the high school trigonometry students with the use and practical application of trigonometry in the surveying profession.
3. To build an awareness of surveying as a profession among the mathematically-skilled high school students, career guidance counselors and high school math teachers."
seems worthwhile to me...
> The value of programs like Trig-Star and Math*Counts have far more worth than just to promote our chosen profession. They inspire and help kids strive for excellence in the field of mathematics...
>How many of the winners turned out to become surveyors? I have no clue, nor care. I would bet that nearly 100% went on to become successful in some endeavor later.
>
> Deral
This, I agree with. However, my take on the subject, and if I'm being cynical here please forgive me, is that our goals of promoting the profession of land surveying should be just that. Promoting it. I've been saying for a minute now, I even tell some clients this, a person should be required to be tested as to their knowledge of property rights before they are allowed to purchase fee simple property in the state they live in. Think driver's education. State societies could easily become involved in such a movement to the same degree they have in such programs as Trig-Star and the like. Face it, our societal cultures HAVE been dumbed down over these last few decades. Through cookie cutter educational systems, the emergence of the too busy two income family, the multi level media platforms and..., well, it's a list. As surveyors we need to focus on educating the public about not only WHAT we do and how we do it, but WHY it needs to be done. And yes, in the end it always ends up as a NEED.
I'm all for helping our fellow man every way we can as a profession. Especially our young ones. But, I don't understand why we can't do that and at the same time help our selves.
OK, I'll Bite
> Let's hear what YOU have in mind.
Well, the most immediate benefit to the public image of the profession would be to organize a clothing drive so that the actual employees of surveyors one sees by the side of the road may be more easily distinguished from homeless people.
I Know It's A Tough Question.......
......it depends in part upon how one perceives his own personal practice vis-a-vis the rest of the surveying community.
It's not as if we are firemen, and every little kid wants to grow up to be one, until they find out it's more profitable to be doctors or attorneys.
If one's surveying business is humming along, and everything is fine, why rock the boat? I'm guessing there isn't anything you have in mind.
We've already heard your opposition to "National Surveyors Week", and now, after this thread, I expect next we'll hear about how BSA Merit Badges aren't any good either.
LOL!
well....yeah.....but do they really even need to be able to count change at subway? How about the change machine throws out the coins and they are told how many pieces of green paper to give back.
LOL!
On a slightly related note, I went to the bank today to deposit a $100 check from Canada. The teller said the exchange rate for today was 0.9309, then I said, "Oh, that's easy, the deposit amount would be $93.09", to which she replied, "Hmmm, I'll have to check that, it doesn't sound right." Then she punched it into her little calculator and reluctantly said it "looked" like I was right. Imagine that.
LOL!
You can't be too careful when it comes to math. 😉
I Know It's A Tough Question.......
> We've already heard your opposition to "National Surveyors Week", and now, after this thread, I expect next we'll hear about how BSA Merit Badges aren't any good either.
Yes, "National Surveyors Week" just looks like the consolation prize for holding a losing ticket in life's lottery, collectively speaking. National Canine Hygiene Week and National Botulism Awareness Week would be sharing the bill, I'd think.
The sorts of things that actually merit serious collective effort aren't the quickie photo-op-type deals. They haven't been done because they are difficult and require work. I'd think a project to open a digital archive of private surveyors' records to be available to qualified users on a license fee basis would actually be worth doing in those states where the public archives are quite limited.
Basically, the sort of things that surveyors collectively ought to be thinking about doing are those things that are too much to do individually, but which nonetheless need to be done for the long-term well-being of the profession and the landowning public. That will vary considerably from place to place.
Kent, my old friend
perhaps the reading comprehension should be worked on for the old pharts also... 🙂
The use of real names rather than "handles" together with a "gentle folk" demeanor would go a long way too... especially in the public view as we are here.
It really is sad that you have had such a bad experience with sub-professional practice in Texas. I too had a poor experience in my brief time in Arizona. We both do have to understand that there is a a much bigger world out there.
Peter
Peter
Well, I'm not sure how long you've been reading Kent's posts, but I can say with 100% certainty that his posts at "Wendell's Place" are akin to his posts on RPLS from 10 years ago.
To put it another way, I wasn't sure if someone had hi-jacked Kent's computer or not as he is VERY civil here at "Wendell's Place".
I like the transition myself.
Keith on the other hand just changed bars, not the attitude IMHO.
The TrigStar program has been an important program for the developing an interest in math and trig to give students something other than a sports related way to earn scholarships and has been a great success.
The surveyors got on board because it was one of the many fields that common interest could possibly lead candidates to enter into surveying as a profession. It has always been a long shot of a chance for that to happen.
Recently, I had the opportunity to learn about an interesting program that is being developed under the title of SKILLS USA. It is being offered as an option in the vocational programs of our public schools as an extra curriculum activity. The program is completely about fundamental surveying. It compares to Forestry Tree Identification that has teams that compete against other schools.
In the Surveying program, a team of students will compete in running a simple traverse by chain and transit ($600 builder's transit)to obtain best closure and best accuracy.
Another portion of the competition is a knowledge quiz that compares to certified exams that some SITs explore and their study plan is taken from the actual certification tests.
They learn to run levels and other basic surveying skills and to work as a team (crew), each having their own responsibilities to finish the task.
Andy
That sounds pretty cool. I'll see the superintendent at church on Sunday and ask if my home town has it. I'd be willing to volunteer for that.
On a related note, I'll be working North of Jefferson all week next week (and probably the week after that). Maybe we can get a beer one evening. I'll be staying in Jefferson.
I Know It's A Tough Question.......
Unfortunately, I think it may be teaching the best and brightest how lame the profession would be as a career choice.
Appearance means everything, but it's not the clothes we wear on the side of the road that influences career choice.
But a big national competition that awards what? A 50 dollar calculator or maybe 500 bucks as "grand prize".
These kids are smart, and we taught them something.
Kris
Yes, contact me when you are up this way. I have research to do in Jefferson, so I am sure a plan can be made.
The best person to talk to at school about this program would be the Technical Teacher. Administration would not be able to help much.
Like any other vocational program, it requires assistance from the surrounding industry and personal help to introduce surveying techniques they can not learn from a textbook.
This activity is relatively new and statewide only a few schools are participating. It looks very promising.
Well put my friend from the state of Oklahoma.
I support Math*Counts and TrigStar both, have for decades.
Kris
Kent has always been a good guy, a little rough around the edges sometimes, but he does mean well.
I too have been "not too gracious" and am working on that. I prefer to not review what I have said in the past, those days are long gone (I hope).
This is a happy place, lets keep it that way if we can.
My best to all, Peter 🙂
