That is a sad comment. I can't imagine not wanting to learn, especially with the offer of free tuition from an accomplished craftsman or crasftswoman, if the opportunity is there.
I have found the same to be true. I have offered a free
apprenticeship to numerous people and no takers. (They all want to
be paid handsomely to learn!)
Lisa,
I can well understand your reasons for starting your thread on
manners. It just in it’s premise set up two sides. It set education in
formal settings against those who did not have that background. I
could give two bowel movements about how one learned, but in this
world of internet interactions we see more and more people grasping
for anything that can set them apart and make them feel different. I
bet in real life we would have different opinions of many here that
we feel are disruptive.
Yes this subject should be closed. It just brings out the worst in
defending the two positions. Manners are something that are defined
differently by different age groups, educational groups, ethnic
groups, and the list goes on. What we should reach for is civility
and a large measure of acceptance. We have way too much to learn even
from curmudgeons.
Aggie the old lady who had to put on shoes today since Fl was in the
60’s when I got up.
The point is I come from several dying crafts, leather work and blacksmithing, no one wants to learn these crafts they just want to pay me money. I've offered free tuition, and support, but now one wants to learn.
Here are several venues to teach your crafts:
John C Campbell Folk School offers classes in both those topics,
taught by experienced practicioners like yourself. They don’t pay
much, but you’ll have a good time and it should cover your expenses.
Your local community college may be cooperative in letting you teach
via their continuing education program. They do the local
advertising. If you find some real winners as students, invite them
to come to your studio and work with you.
Historical Re-enactment groups are a good source of folks who want
to learn a dying art (particularly if you want to teach it for free).
They may be a bit geekier than your average folks (and being one of
them, I speak from experience J ), but they’ll be likely to
appreciate your skills. www.sca.org is a medieval history group that
has local branches all over the world. There are others out there,
too. If you’re located in the MD, VA, DC, NC, SC, GA area, I can put
you in touch with the right folks. Otherwise, you’ll have to check
the website.
Hope that helps scratch that teaching itch.
I have found the same to be true. I have offered a free apprenticeship to numerous people and no takers. (They all want to be paid handsomely to learn!)
An apprenticeship is a little different to free tuition, well in
Australia it is.
If I were to take on a first jewellery apprentice I could legally
pay them $7.80 an hour which is well below the award wage for
unskilled labour $16.42 an hour (which is the rate a fourth year
apprentice gets).
My dilema is that I have skills that I simply want to pass on, I
don’t need an employee, but I am offering the skills free. Skills
that people can use to enter a niche market.
No one is interested.
I even tried the other alternative of setting up an interest group,
and still no one is interested.
I really feel like pounding my head against a wall.
Regards Charles A.
I have found the same to be true. I have offered a free apprenticeship to numerous people and no takers. (They all want to be paid handsomely to learn!)
Wow. I’ve met lots of folks willing to work for free. I worked for
min. wage for my two apprenticeships.
Perhaps you and the others could post at the website
Apprentice/Mentor.
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/19
Elaine
CreativeTextureTools.com
You know, blacksmithing is still alive and well in New England.
There are craft programs/centers in VT, NH, MA, CT that offers
blacksmithing classes, and they are pretty popular. Leatherworking
is just about impossible to find, for I did want to learn basic
leatherworking so I would try adding leather to my metalwork, but
have to rely on a leather artist for the leather I need. I’m still
looking for lampshade making workshops and the only one I found got
cancelled ( of course!)
As for education, I know quite a few craftspeople ( jewelers,
goldsmiths, blacksmiths, and more) who were self-taught, and they do
extraordinary work, and have a deep appreciation for their craft.
Some have taken a workshop or two, but they pretty much taught
themselves. I have noticed that the jewelers who have all kinds of
degrees, some are pretty creative, but there’s some, who are not that
creative, have an attitude, and their work is kind of genetic.
College education goes both ways - it can take a talented artist and
turn them into an excellent craftsperson and designer, but it can
also mold students into a certain mindset, and then they never really
get out from the college influence. I know people who are very good
at what they can do, but their work isn’t anything special and they
can be a little snobby. Trying to talk to them and hearing nothing
but academic makes me roll my eyes.
I’m guilty of having multiple degrees, but I also have taught myself
many things, and flexible, am always trying out new things, new
ideas, new ways to do things. I’m a tinker and I feel it’s the one
thing that brings out the best - always keep trying. Don’t settle
for the same old thing, but keep tinkering, keep pushing. Sure,
degrees are nice, but the sad thing is that MFAs are totally
worthless except for teaching. I hated undergrad school but had a
wonderful time in grad school, in a program that really made you
think in ways you don’t expect, and best of all, fitted in. I was an
outcast in undergrad school, for I didn’t conform to the usual style
that was characteristic of the metals program.
Colleges can mold students in such a way, they can never really get
out of the mindset they were trained with, and I find it a very
closed attitude. There’s a book called “The Closing of the American
Mind” and it’s quite enlightening, and it brought up points I have
wondered for years.
I do tend to be unorthodox in my approaches, and will warn my
students when I’m teaching.
Joy
The community college route may be the way to go. I don’t care about
getting paid, just interested in the skills being passed on.
Re-enactment groups are customers, and have a large enough
disposable income to just buy 
I’m in Australia, so for some reason the enthuisasm that Americans
have isn’t here.
I’ve found when someone says “I wish I could make that”, they really
mean “can I buy one”
I’m sure I’ll eventually find someone that wants to learn.
Regards Charles A.
My dilema is that I have skills that I simply want to pass on, I don't need an employee, but I am offering the skills free. Skills that people can use to enter a niche market.
So teach classes and charge for them?
Teach classes and run a contest where the prizes are free spots in
the class.
Work with an employment re-training place and teach there.
Elaine
CreativeTextureTools.com
If I were to take on a first jewellery apprentice I could legally pay them $7.80 an hour which is well below the award wage for unskilled labour $16.42 an hour (which is the rate a fourth year apprentice gets).
Too bad you not in NS, Canada, I would take your offer for
apprenticeship.
The point is I come from several dying crafts, leather work and blacksmithing, no one wants to learn these crafts they just want to pay me money. I've offered free tuition, and support, but now one wants to learn.
If you were not in Australia, I would in all likelihood be begging
to learn from you right now.
Highest regards,
Rowan
Hi,
If I were to take on a first jewellery apprentice I could legally pay them $7.80 an hour which is well below the award wage for unskilled labour $16.42 an hour (which is the rate a fourth year apprentice gets). Too bad you not in NS, Canada, I would take your offer for apprenticeship.
Seriously how could you live on $7.80 an hour, I’d be awarding more
than that anyway.
I did have a run of students doing work experience at my place, but
the rules were really strict, as they should be.
A the end of the week the student have made something to take away,
because it was forbidden to give them money as this interfered with
their life insurance. Getting them to make something to take away
was my way to give them something.
Regards Charles A.
Teach classes and run a contest where the prizes are free spots in the class. Work with an employment re-training place and teach there.
This is an avenue that I didn’t contemplate doing, but I will look
into it further.
Thanks regards Charles A.
if you were offering apprenticeship in nyc i’d take you up on it. i
would do it for free. i work from 4 X 12 midnight i’m off sunday and
monday so i wish but i bet your no place near nyc.
sabra
If you were not in Australia, I would in all likelihood be begging to learn from you right now.
Begging would not be necessary 
I know people in the states that are happy to share and
techniques.
Regards Charles A.
Hello all,
I feel funny when I read all the mails about teaching and helping
for free.
What is the need of running a business?
Why are we dealing with payed workshops?
Honestly, I’m not that easy anymore. Time that I spend for others is
time I can’t use for my family or myself and believe me my time is
precious. It might look very selfish but my day consists of 24 hours,
that’s it people, for all of us.
I like teaching aswell but people will pay me for my service. They
are happy because of the quality of they get for their
money and I can pay my bill’s
Have said all this, one should know by now howmuch I appreciate
Ganoksin. Sitting after my desk and reading your mails every day, for
many years, trying to help with the little I know compared to the
wisdome of others. Am I selfish, in a way sure I am! I knocked on
heavens door several times but to early.
I didn’t follow “Neil the jeweller” (for the ones who remember this
fine person) in his steps, but I still remember him aswell as others
on the other side.
I honnor his conversations with me and I learned from him about life
and time, be blessed Neil!
My contribution (as humble as it is) is, be aware of your time
because you only have 24 hours a day and ONE single life to live!
Spend your time well but spend it wisely.
Have fun and enjoy.
Pedro
Are you set up with a decent camera and Skype? Sounds like you have
some takers in other parts of the world. I’m in Buenos Aires, and I’m
interested, too.
Ronnie
My dilema is that I have skills that I simply want to pass on, I don't need an employee, but I am offering the skills free. Skills that people can use to enter a niche market. No one is interested.
I would kill for a chance to learn from a mentor who wants to pass
on their skills. I even posted on Craigslist.com offering myself as
an unpaid intern. I received one reply, which I hope will work out
(the jeweler is busy moving shop, declined my offer to help). I also
listed on apprenticementor.com; zero response.
Here in Honolulu, jewelry education opportunities are limited to a)
super-basic, quickie workshops at the local bead shop, b) a
once-weekly, three-month workshop at the museum. It’s crammed with
students at all levels, and the poor instructor runs back and forth
for three hours trying to accommodate everyone, and c) an expensive
for-credit metal sculpture course at the university. No jewelry, but
there is fire and metal.
Interested students are out there, and willing mentors, too, I
gather. It’s just a matter of finding one another.
The point is I come from several dying crafts, leather work and blacksmithing, no one wants to learn these crafts they just want to pay me money. I've offered free tuition, and support, but now one wants to learn. I'm just happy if people make jewellery, for me it doesn't matter how they learn just as long as they make.
I’ve always loved to talk with my blacksmith (farrier) about how he
works the metal, as well as how it relates to the horse. It’s
especially fun now that I make jewelry, and we get to talk about the
similarities and differences in how we work the metal. But I’m a
nerd.
But with jewelry, there are definitely people who could care less
how you made it as long as they get something that fits and looks
like they want. Those people will never appreciate how the process
can greatly affect how the piece looks, fits, wears, and lasts. Oh
well. But I’ve found a large number of people who get interested in
how I made it. It seems to make it more precious to them.
The process taken may not be that important as long as the piece
ends up being good. But you definitely need a certain amount of
proper process to get an attractive, wearable, and durable piece of
jewelry.
The community college route may be the way to go....
Charles, I hope you can work this out. Most of my students are
beaders, and they are a great group – motivated, hard-working, and
creative. I hope you can find a community college that will allow you
to have a torch (or torches) in your class, because after the basic
skills, soldering is of greatest interest.
Judy Bjorkman
Are you set up with a decent camera and Skype?
Another possibility I didn’t think of 