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Comment by thechao

1 day ago

My greatgrandmother (born in 1891) left grade school in 6th grade for similar reasons. The real reason she was taken out was "money". (This was rural Indiana about 1903.) She finished her own education through what you might call a master's program by studying her brothers' texts. It was an unwise person who assume her lack of formal education meant anything about her intelligence or informal education.

I have a typing diploma and a driving license so I can relate, though I was born a little bit later.

  • Well it was far removed from today, but our high school had been built experimentally on runways in the nearby Everglades after the air base had been decommissioned following the Cuban Missile Crisis.

    The pavement was vast in all directions and educational buildings had been placed on or alongside it, all parking was on existing tarmac.

    Anyway, in Mechanical Engineering our senior project was a gyrocopter.

    It was pretty much like somebody had a broken one just sitting around doing nothing, a student brought it in like it was "show & tell" and the decision was made to launch. It didn't come in at the beginning of the year.

    I did graduate a bit early and never did get to see much of the progress.

    • That's fascinating. If the high school my sons go to would decide on letting students build an aircraft with the intention of flying it I would be donating tools, but the rest of the parents here would have the school management in court.

      Are there any pictures of this project in your possession?

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