A thought as I read this hopeful article. Read numerous laments about whats wrong with young men. I have not seen a discussion about how teaching was an established career for many men for hundreds of years, my father being one of them. His class- industrial arts. Junior high boys. Woodworking, graphic design, and metallurgy were ways boys not only worked physically but artistically under the eyes of my dad and other men teachers. Being a WW2 army officer who kept his metal helmet on his desk, he commanded respect but deeply cared, taking “ problem” boys under his wing. Saw him stand up to abusive fathers.
Nothing replaces role models of manhood in real life.
A phenomenal point and one well worth considering. And "nothing replaces role models of manhood in real life" is such an astute observation connected to your point.
Taking shop class out of school was truly a mistake.
My 13-year-old son already can't wait to go to St. Joseph the Worker. We watched a video about it when they first announced the idea, and afterwards he immediately said, "Welp, I know where I'm going to college." His sister goes to Franciscan, which is basically next door, which I think goes a long way in making this new insitution already hopeful with potential community and resources.
That is such a cool thing to read: thank you for sharing it with me! I'm sure he will make a mighty craftsman in God's kingdom. I had the same reaction when I first learned of St. Joe's but I was already in my 30s, so. I guess that ship has sailed. *le sigh*
I read your series on the FPR website but I’m glad you’re sharing here for some dialogue!
This reminds me of a good friend I had in college, who ended up going to grad school, became Anglican, and has been serving in some theology/spiritual formation roles with an Anglican Church planting network. And remember him deliberately choosing to take a year off to work a hands-on, regular job sometime before or after grad school — I think in landscaping or something? It wasn't really for the money, either.
I remember him telling me that if he hadn’t done so, he would have gone essentially his whole life without working a job that required his physical self, out in the world outside of school/academia/ministry. And how that could be an unhealthy way to come into a role where you’re ministering to people who *do* work out there in the physical world, with different people, using more than their mind. Even if it was only a year spent in the work, I have mad respect that mindset.
Anyways, a tangent to your fantastic series, but a worthwhile one I thought to share.
Oh man, a totally worthwhile tangent. Thanks so much for bringing it up.
There's a lot of wisdom in that mindset, and I think it can't be undervalued. I remember looking at the apostles needing deacons in Acts, reading their statement that "it's not good for us to leave preaching of the word to wait tables," and thinking, "Ah yes, that's me." You know, Nate the Apostle. Massive L. So taking a table waiting/tent building job just wasn't on my radar.
But God clearly had other plans! And I'm thankful for them. I'm sure your friend is a much better pastor for his time manually laboring.
I commend to you another organization/academy for your growing list. Service Over Self in Memphis, TN has been training women and men in "prayer & labor" for decades through their summer-long staff program and year-long residency program.
Bringing the good things into existence with our own two hands, as soon as possible, is a laudable effort in the fight against learned helplessness. Can't let God do all the work!
I think this is implicit (and not drawn out enough) in our being in the Imago Dei: He, a creator, made little creators. If we aren't ordering the world around us in some form or fashion, I think there is something fundamental to our human constitution that is being denied.
I taught for a semester at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa NC and just adored it. This was twenty years ago, when it was hippy free spirited. Unfortunately it has gone very ideologically bonkers in the years since, so currently I would not send a child to it. But the setting is gorgeous and the students really did run the campus from cafeteria work to maintenance to the campus farm. With professional staff mentorship.
If its ethos were to shift several degrees rightward it has all the elements to be a paradise.
Great round up! I didn't know there were any institutions like this so that is very encouraging.
This sort of idea has been kicking around in my head for two or three years. I'd love to see a two year bible school sort of training paired with apprenticeships with men in the trades at a local church level.
This is a wonderful thing. I'm presuming that these schools are primarily, if not completely, male students. Which is fine! I'm not here to argue that point! Just making the observation!
My question is, honestly, what a sister school to any of these would look like. Would it also include woodworking or metallurgy? Or would it include clothesmaking, home economics, child development, cooking? Would the curriculum presume that graduates would go into homemaking (an important vocation, to be sure) or would it prepare a young woman for a career? I suppose it would depend on the institution; some could prepare for domestic management and others for a career outside the home.
Hi! I just came across this series of articles recently, and I was interested to see The Makers Institute on the list— I live in Richmond but had never heard of it! I’m looking forward to checking it out more since it’s in my city, and I love studio art (glasswork and painting, mostly, though I’ve dabbled in many mediums). Thanks for sharing!
A thought as I read this hopeful article. Read numerous laments about whats wrong with young men. I have not seen a discussion about how teaching was an established career for many men for hundreds of years, my father being one of them. His class- industrial arts. Junior high boys. Woodworking, graphic design, and metallurgy were ways boys not only worked physically but artistically under the eyes of my dad and other men teachers. Being a WW2 army officer who kept his metal helmet on his desk, he commanded respect but deeply cared, taking “ problem” boys under his wing. Saw him stand up to abusive fathers.
Nothing replaces role models of manhood in real life.
A phenomenal point and one well worth considering. And "nothing replaces role models of manhood in real life" is such an astute observation connected to your point.
Taking shop class out of school was truly a mistake.
My 13-year-old son already can't wait to go to St. Joseph the Worker. We watched a video about it when they first announced the idea, and afterwards he immediately said, "Welp, I know where I'm going to college." His sister goes to Franciscan, which is basically next door, which I think goes a long way in making this new insitution already hopeful with potential community and resources.
Great piece, Nate!
That is such a cool thing to read: thank you for sharing it with me! I'm sure he will make a mighty craftsman in God's kingdom. I had the same reaction when I first learned of St. Joe's but I was already in my 30s, so. I guess that ship has sailed. *le sigh*
Thanks for sharing it with your audience, Tsh!
I read your series on the FPR website but I’m glad you’re sharing here for some dialogue!
This reminds me of a good friend I had in college, who ended up going to grad school, became Anglican, and has been serving in some theology/spiritual formation roles with an Anglican Church planting network. And remember him deliberately choosing to take a year off to work a hands-on, regular job sometime before or after grad school — I think in landscaping or something? It wasn't really for the money, either.
I remember him telling me that if he hadn’t done so, he would have gone essentially his whole life without working a job that required his physical self, out in the world outside of school/academia/ministry. And how that could be an unhealthy way to come into a role where you’re ministering to people who *do* work out there in the physical world, with different people, using more than their mind. Even if it was only a year spent in the work, I have mad respect that mindset.
Anyways, a tangent to your fantastic series, but a worthwhile one I thought to share.
Oh man, a totally worthwhile tangent. Thanks so much for bringing it up.
There's a lot of wisdom in that mindset, and I think it can't be undervalued. I remember looking at the apostles needing deacons in Acts, reading their statement that "it's not good for us to leave preaching of the word to wait tables," and thinking, "Ah yes, that's me." You know, Nate the Apostle. Massive L. So taking a table waiting/tent building job just wasn't on my radar.
But God clearly had other plans! And I'm thankful for them. I'm sure your friend is a much better pastor for his time manually laboring.
I commend to you another organization/academy for your growing list. Service Over Self in Memphis, TN has been training women and men in "prayer & labor" for decades through their summer-long staff program and year-long residency program.
sosmemphis.org
I love that this list is getting longer. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Jonathan!
Bringing the good things into existence with our own two hands, as soon as possible, is a laudable effort in the fight against learned helplessness. Can't let God do all the work!
Build something! Plant something! Assemble something! Repair something!
I think this is implicit (and not drawn out enough) in our being in the Imago Dei: He, a creator, made little creators. If we aren't ordering the world around us in some form or fashion, I think there is something fundamental to our human constitution that is being denied.
The gospel in a nutshell is redemption, repair, and restoration. Repairing a chair and repairing a relationship are all worthy in the kingdom.
I taught for a semester at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa NC and just adored it. This was twenty years ago, when it was hippy free spirited. Unfortunately it has gone very ideologically bonkers in the years since, so currently I would not send a child to it. But the setting is gorgeous and the students really did run the campus from cafeteria work to maintenance to the campus farm. With professional staff mentorship.
If its ethos were to shift several degrees rightward it has all the elements to be a paradise.
Great round up! I didn't know there were any institutions like this so that is very encouraging.
This sort of idea has been kicking around in my head for two or three years. I'd love to see a two year bible school sort of training paired with apprenticeships with men in the trades at a local church level.
This is a wonderful thing. I'm presuming that these schools are primarily, if not completely, male students. Which is fine! I'm not here to argue that point! Just making the observation!
My question is, honestly, what a sister school to any of these would look like. Would it also include woodworking or metallurgy? Or would it include clothesmaking, home economics, child development, cooking? Would the curriculum presume that graduates would go into homemaking (an important vocation, to be sure) or would it prepare a young woman for a career? I suppose it would depend on the institution; some could prepare for domestic management and others for a career outside the home.
Hi! I just came across this series of articles recently, and I was interested to see The Makers Institute on the list— I live in Richmond but had never heard of it! I’m looking forward to checking it out more since it’s in my city, and I love studio art (glasswork and painting, mostly, though I’ve dabbled in many mediums). Thanks for sharing!