The Trades Of Our Sons

Daily as a Porter Elizabeth and I are thinking about the trades in which our sons will be brought up. From the ages of five up till their tenth birthday our sons will know to study and familiarize themselves with various trades. The day of their tenth birthday they will be expected to dedicate themselves to a trade. If they decide to change trades that will be fine. They will always have an occupation to fall back on. Their practicing of their trade will be financed by us, their parents. They will be expected to be expert and professional in their trade by the time they leave the house.

The only qualifications their trade must follow is that:
1. It must not utilize electricity
2. It must be able to be done on the property
3. Classes away from the farm are acceptable
4. In some cases it may be necessary to have a teacher come to the farm

Elizabeth and I are learned in various crafts, however we are professional in none of them. Had we been raised the way our children will be, I think that would be different. The time from ten years of age up to the age of leaving the home-whether that be 18 or even 25, is more than sufficient to be expert in a craft whether that be shoe-making or blacksmithing or wheelwrighting or even plane making.

Our sons will be provided with all the source material they could possibly need. They will also be provided with all the finest tools they should need. If ever they decide to change trades, the tools and materials will be kept and used with a different child that chooses that specific trade. If no other child pursues that trade, then the materials will be saved for grandchildren or sold to a family that needs it for their child. Resources and materials are too precious to be sold out of the community.

We are ever expanding our library to suit our life. We don't believe in public education but we do believe in home education. I'll expound on that in another post.

To bless our children with a trade and occupation is in our opinion the greatest gift of all. Much more valuable than a student loan or diploma. No job application required and they can work from home as their own boss. The way life was before the industrial revolution.