People Like This School For Breaking Gender Stereotypes And Teaching Year 11 Girls Car Maintenance And DIY Skills
While schools are doing a great job in teaching kids everything they need to know about math, literature, science, physical education, and everything in between, some claim that there isn’t enough of a focus on “life skills” like using particular power tools, fixing the sink, putting up a shelf, and whatnot.
Today, such lessons can very easily be learned on YouTube and other video platforms. Bored Panda has already written about a man who grew up without a dad and decided to give dadvice and teach life lessons to teens and young adults on his YouTube channel.
But one school decided to do just that. In particular, it taught its girl students the basics of car maintenance and automotive DIY.
Car maintenance and DIY are one of many skills that aren’t always taught in schools when they should be
Image credits: Stella Maris College
So, the Stella Maris College in Sydney, Australia has recently shared a post titled “Essential Life Skills” where it elaborated on some lessons that it provided to its female senior students.
The post explained that the school’s Year 11 girls were taught a number of essential DIY car maintenance skills by Galmatic, a hands-on car maintenance high school that offers incursions, workshops, and courses for women and teenagers.
So, this school decided to organize some car-oriented maintenance lessons to its Year 11 students
Image credits: Stella Maris College
The teachings included how to change a tire, how to check tire pressure, how to check oil and coolant levels, what to do in a car crash, and whatnot. This was done in hopes of encouraging independence, strength, and resourcefulness among young women.
The school organizes incursions (events on school grounds, as opposed to excursions) for groups of around 40 girls. So far, the reaction is positive and has proven to be effective in teaching necessary skills that are a must after leaving school. This is, of course, besides empowering them to be self-reliant in such situations.
Organized by Galmatic, a car maintenance school for women, these lessons aim to foster independence, strength, and resourcefulness
Image credits: Stella Maris College
Turns out, Galmatic teaches around 100,000 teenagers throughout Sydney every year. The main aim is so that the teens would feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel. Lessons like these also teach that problems should never be left unresolved as it poses a safety risk, among many other things.
The story drew the attention of a number of news sites, making headlines around the globe and also receiving positive reactions from people online who agree that these truly are essential skills.
The lessons teach how to change a tire, check oil levels, tire pressure, among many other things
Image credits: Galmatic Garage
One person pointed out that women are often left vulnerable in flat tire situations on more remote country roads, so having such know-how helps. Others pointed out that even if they don’t choose to drive, it still adds to one’s confidence and general knowledge of things like mechanics.
Now, in some parts of the globe, these life skills are incorporated into other curricula. In some countries, car maintenance is taught as part of driving school whereby people get their driver’s license. In some cases, these skills are also taught in vocational schools when studying mechanics, logistics, or similar topics.
What are your thoughts on this? How was your first time changing tires or doing car maintenance? Let us know in the comment section below!
Here’s how people reacted to this bit of news
The current title of this article states that "People like this school for breaking gendered stereotypes and teaching year 11 girls car maintenance and diy skills" but this school seems to have a very gendered dress code, so they're not really breaking stereotypes.
I graduated high school in 1978. Right before registration, I asked if I could take auto shop in my senior year—-already knew I was going to be on my own for a while before settling down—-and was told to choose a girls’ class instead, because auto shop was only for boys. Man, was I hopping mad! I told them that women—-and men—-do live on their own for years before getting married, and should learn basic home and car maintenance—-just like boys should learn how to cook and clean. The principal was not open to hearing me out, and repeated that I was not going to be allowed to take auto shop. I am soooo glad we’re more woke now.
I graduated in 1971band I asked to take Home Ec (as it was called in the olden days) to learn to sew. I got the same response.
Load More Replies...When I was in junior high, all students (male + female) went through a full set of Life Skills classes including Sewing, Cooking, Metal Shop, Wood Shop and Power Mechanics (where we completely stripped down and rebuilt a lawnmower engine). I still use the skills I learned in all of those classes.
I wish I could strip an engine. I can replace an oil pan and a muffler though 🤷
Load More Replies...My dad was born in 1910, he was 45 when I came along. He told me if I was going to drive I needed to learn how to take care of a car. Taught me to check fluid, change a tire etc. He passed before he could teach me oil changes. My brother helped with that. Both have passed. Dad 40 years ago any my brother 4 years ago. I was fortunate that I had men in my life who valued and loved me. I am extremely fortunate to have married a man with the same values.
Same here! My Pop was born in ‘31, had me when he was 48. Wouldn’t let me learn to drive until he taught me to change a tire. We never changed the oil or other fluids, but he made sure I knew how to check them and know if they needed changing or not. Only then would he let me take Driver’s Ed. I also know how to fix things around the house or at least check things. He was adamant that I know things so “You don’t get stranded on the side of the road or ripped off because you’re a woman.” The things he taught me have helped me so much! He also taught me how to cook and sew, because we lost my Mom and he had to take that role on, too.
Load More Replies...Yeah, but what about them all having to wear dresses? Breaking gender stereotypes my a$$
We had this all the time in rural farm country. A woman had to make do for herself. I'm half a century old and learned how to do auto, home, etc., as well as cook and clean. but not in school. Our families taught us or we didn't learn. And, not all families did. But... yeah. Most. I mean, if you have only daughters, someone's gotta drive/maintain the tractor!
Car maintenance shouldn't be gendered, because cars aren't. Everyone has one. Even as a guy, this stuff wasn't taught to us in school. I had my Dad teach me how to jump a car, and change a tire, the oil and the regular fluids, when I bought my first car so that I wouldn't get caught out.
This is great Now let's change the girls' school uniforms so they can achievement it without needing to 'hide' themselves.
At my primary school, we had a day where these racecar people came to the OSCH (which we called SPLASH). There were a bunch of activities involving cars and racing, and it was actually really fun. One of the activities was a pit stop challenge, where we had to change two tires as fast as we possibly could. Me and the only other girl doing it were on a team together, and we got the fastest time overall, and we came first and second on the racing leaderboard. I don’t think that people should say what other people can and can’t do based on their gender. Boys can do “girly” things like cooking and sewing just as well as girls can, and girls can do “boyish” things like sports and racing and cars just as well as boys can. Everyone should be able to do whatever they want no matter of their gender.
How is a school so progressive in learning so dated in uniforms? If a woman can change a tire, she can wear trousers.
It's an all-girls Catholic school. Policy doesn't change unless there is an overwhelming reason. Personally, I am in favor of uniforms, flattering or otherwise. I wouldn't have had as rounded an educational experience without them.
Load More Replies...Maybe they should also teach to dress as the work needs. , not for a dress code. Glowes that protect hands, trousers and shirt to protect minor scratches and proper shoes to protect foot..
When I was in high school in Texas back in the early 70's girls took home ec and boys took shop as alternatives to higher education classes that supposedly prepped them for college and life thereafter. I was not allowed to take a shop class, told it was for boys only. I was devastated. I knew I had a very high mechanical aptitude and that I BELONGED in that class. Well, the joke is on them. I went on to become one of just a handful of women in the United States that was a Master Certified Repair Technician with an L1 patch for computer drive-ability and diagnostics. It wasn't easy. Men treat you like crap a lot of the time, but there are those that do support you. So the saying "Where there's a will, there's a way." has become one of the most profoundly meaningful sayings I've ever heard.
The one photo of a student with her head between the tyre and the vehicle ... which is being held up just by a hydraulic jack... nasty "accident" waiting to happen.
My mom ran our girl scout troop like a life skill class. It was fantastic. She had mechanics teach us car maintenance, she had accountants teach us budgeting, we learned to can and cook, home maintenance, basic sewing, lawn maintenance, trip planning, and every year our cookie sales were treated like a small business venture. Just to fantastic.
A lot of males here aren't able to replace a wheel as well... It's dead simple.
Awesome! Reminds me of a bartender when I worked at a nightclub. The manager's car wouldn't start, so she pulled up her vehicle and hooked up the jumper cables. Still nothing, so she got a jigger of cola and poured it on the terminals. It was cranking hard, so she opened the rotor cap, cleaned off the contacts, and VROOOM! She was quite model-esque and dressed very girlie for work. Turns out she had been in the air force for four years and could pilot a jet.
I teach all my kids this. If you drive in my family, you better be able to do all this before you get the keys. You never know when you or someone else will need help. My SIL was 27 before she had to change a tire. And she didn't know how!
This is awesome!! There really needs to be a "life skill" class that teaches a bunch of life-skills to everyone! One thing they need to change is the instructor really should put the tire under the body of the vehicle for extra security should the jack fail. It's unlikely but it is a secondary safeguard when body parts may be under the supported vehicle.
Good job. I was 31 before The King of Random (Youtube) taught me to change a tyre and Stan Cravens (Youtube) taught me to jump start a car.
It depends on where you live. Here in northern latitudes we change all 4 of them twice a year. To winter tires at autumn and to normal ones at spring.
Load More Replies...The current title of this article states that "People like this school for breaking gendered stereotypes and teaching year 11 girls car maintenance and diy skills" but this school seems to have a very gendered dress code, so they're not really breaking stereotypes.
I graduated high school in 1978. Right before registration, I asked if I could take auto shop in my senior year—-already knew I was going to be on my own for a while before settling down—-and was told to choose a girls’ class instead, because auto shop was only for boys. Man, was I hopping mad! I told them that women—-and men—-do live on their own for years before getting married, and should learn basic home and car maintenance—-just like boys should learn how to cook and clean. The principal was not open to hearing me out, and repeated that I was not going to be allowed to take auto shop. I am soooo glad we’re more woke now.
I graduated in 1971band I asked to take Home Ec (as it was called in the olden days) to learn to sew. I got the same response.
Load More Replies...When I was in junior high, all students (male + female) went through a full set of Life Skills classes including Sewing, Cooking, Metal Shop, Wood Shop and Power Mechanics (where we completely stripped down and rebuilt a lawnmower engine). I still use the skills I learned in all of those classes.
I wish I could strip an engine. I can replace an oil pan and a muffler though 🤷
Load More Replies...My dad was born in 1910, he was 45 when I came along. He told me if I was going to drive I needed to learn how to take care of a car. Taught me to check fluid, change a tire etc. He passed before he could teach me oil changes. My brother helped with that. Both have passed. Dad 40 years ago any my brother 4 years ago. I was fortunate that I had men in my life who valued and loved me. I am extremely fortunate to have married a man with the same values.
Same here! My Pop was born in ‘31, had me when he was 48. Wouldn’t let me learn to drive until he taught me to change a tire. We never changed the oil or other fluids, but he made sure I knew how to check them and know if they needed changing or not. Only then would he let me take Driver’s Ed. I also know how to fix things around the house or at least check things. He was adamant that I know things so “You don’t get stranded on the side of the road or ripped off because you’re a woman.” The things he taught me have helped me so much! He also taught me how to cook and sew, because we lost my Mom and he had to take that role on, too.
Load More Replies...Yeah, but what about them all having to wear dresses? Breaking gender stereotypes my a$$
We had this all the time in rural farm country. A woman had to make do for herself. I'm half a century old and learned how to do auto, home, etc., as well as cook and clean. but not in school. Our families taught us or we didn't learn. And, not all families did. But... yeah. Most. I mean, if you have only daughters, someone's gotta drive/maintain the tractor!
Car maintenance shouldn't be gendered, because cars aren't. Everyone has one. Even as a guy, this stuff wasn't taught to us in school. I had my Dad teach me how to jump a car, and change a tire, the oil and the regular fluids, when I bought my first car so that I wouldn't get caught out.
This is great Now let's change the girls' school uniforms so they can achievement it without needing to 'hide' themselves.
At my primary school, we had a day where these racecar people came to the OSCH (which we called SPLASH). There were a bunch of activities involving cars and racing, and it was actually really fun. One of the activities was a pit stop challenge, where we had to change two tires as fast as we possibly could. Me and the only other girl doing it were on a team together, and we got the fastest time overall, and we came first and second on the racing leaderboard. I don’t think that people should say what other people can and can’t do based on their gender. Boys can do “girly” things like cooking and sewing just as well as girls can, and girls can do “boyish” things like sports and racing and cars just as well as boys can. Everyone should be able to do whatever they want no matter of their gender.
How is a school so progressive in learning so dated in uniforms? If a woman can change a tire, she can wear trousers.
It's an all-girls Catholic school. Policy doesn't change unless there is an overwhelming reason. Personally, I am in favor of uniforms, flattering or otherwise. I wouldn't have had as rounded an educational experience without them.
Load More Replies...Maybe they should also teach to dress as the work needs. , not for a dress code. Glowes that protect hands, trousers and shirt to protect minor scratches and proper shoes to protect foot..
When I was in high school in Texas back in the early 70's girls took home ec and boys took shop as alternatives to higher education classes that supposedly prepped them for college and life thereafter. I was not allowed to take a shop class, told it was for boys only. I was devastated. I knew I had a very high mechanical aptitude and that I BELONGED in that class. Well, the joke is on them. I went on to become one of just a handful of women in the United States that was a Master Certified Repair Technician with an L1 patch for computer drive-ability and diagnostics. It wasn't easy. Men treat you like crap a lot of the time, but there are those that do support you. So the saying "Where there's a will, there's a way." has become one of the most profoundly meaningful sayings I've ever heard.
The one photo of a student with her head between the tyre and the vehicle ... which is being held up just by a hydraulic jack... nasty "accident" waiting to happen.
My mom ran our girl scout troop like a life skill class. It was fantastic. She had mechanics teach us car maintenance, she had accountants teach us budgeting, we learned to can and cook, home maintenance, basic sewing, lawn maintenance, trip planning, and every year our cookie sales were treated like a small business venture. Just to fantastic.
A lot of males here aren't able to replace a wheel as well... It's dead simple.
Awesome! Reminds me of a bartender when I worked at a nightclub. The manager's car wouldn't start, so she pulled up her vehicle and hooked up the jumper cables. Still nothing, so she got a jigger of cola and poured it on the terminals. It was cranking hard, so she opened the rotor cap, cleaned off the contacts, and VROOOM! She was quite model-esque and dressed very girlie for work. Turns out she had been in the air force for four years and could pilot a jet.
I teach all my kids this. If you drive in my family, you better be able to do all this before you get the keys. You never know when you or someone else will need help. My SIL was 27 before she had to change a tire. And she didn't know how!
This is awesome!! There really needs to be a "life skill" class that teaches a bunch of life-skills to everyone! One thing they need to change is the instructor really should put the tire under the body of the vehicle for extra security should the jack fail. It's unlikely but it is a secondary safeguard when body parts may be under the supported vehicle.
Good job. I was 31 before The King of Random (Youtube) taught me to change a tyre and Stan Cravens (Youtube) taught me to jump start a car.
It depends on where you live. Here in northern latitudes we change all 4 of them twice a year. To winter tires at autumn and to normal ones at spring.
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