‘You’ve had a good education..’
‘You’ve finished your education..’
‘Go get yourself an education..’
We’ve all heard these uttered – though not necessarily to our faces.. What do they mean? Or more exactly, what assumptions lie behind them?
‘I’ve finished my education’ implies…
The hard work is over; I’ve taken the course; passed the exam; got the bit of paper.
I’m competent in my field – and now ready to go out into the world as an adult. I can get a job commensurate with my qualifications. Or I’ve shown I’m ready for an entry level position to some profession.
I can also offer my services and skills to third parties; and do a good job to their satisfaction…
Oh – and get paid for it.
All well and good, but is that the end of it? Place certificate on wall; go out to work?
Certainly not. Every job comes with new challenges, big and small. Those slight everyday variations will cause skills and techniques to be extended and tried out. All about learning on the job – adapting and growing.
For restoring wooden floors, the basics can be taught: how to operate a sanding machine; follow all the health and safety procedures; ensure dust is collected safely; sand evenly and steadily…
The finer points are less tangible: assessing floors to determine how much more sanding an old surface can take: recommending the appropriate sealants for the location and footfall on the floor.
All this involves far more than following instructions in an operating manual (as any person who’s attempted to sand floors as purely an amateur may tell you…).
It develops alongside close contact with a master, absorbing the experience and wisdom of someone who’s seen – if not all – most of what floor repair and restoration is about. The difference between the old hand and the tyro starting out.
The Latin word ‘educere’ embraces far more than schooling or teaching or – heaven forbid – exams. ‘To lead out’ begins with identifying what lies within a person in terms of talent, understanding and willingness to learn. And bring it to fruition: assist and guide the raw but promising material into something useable, worthwhile and marketable. A process that has no end but is part of a lifelong experience…
In our twenty years of Floor Sanding Experts, we have developed the skills of dozens of workers. Several have been with us for many years. The respect is mutual: we like each other; like working together; enjoy doing a great job for our customers.
And always learning and improving. After all, once you’ve completed the ultra-perfect job, where else is there to go?
We like to think we get close to it on occasions!
Derek Williams
