Program to get more kids into the hobby

[Anonymous]

First let me say that I don't know if this has been suggested are not, But I have Two Ideas.

1) Set up a program for grade schools as follows. Have all manufacture Companies in the model railroad hobby to donate a certain amount of money to purchase Train sets.

2) Offer the programs to schools that wi***o particite.

3) Offer one train set for each grade 1 thru 6., or three to four sets to each school.

4) The school can then award a train set by grade or the whole school to the individual with the best essay on the history of railroading. Maybe even offer a Train ride to the best class.

I feel that this would be another tool to get kids involved. They are the future of the hobby. Put more trains in the hands of our children and you will see more interest in the future. Tony

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a great idia on paper but if you look at the numbers...it gets real ugly. I priced most train sets at aprox $100 ad sceanery and construction cost $50 - $200 then multiply that by 20 = $5,000 per county.Granted these are genaric numbers but this a huge un unpractical idea. Now if the local VFW,Boys/Girls scouts along with students (and the parents) would donate maintnence,time& money then this may be a possible project.
Good concept if it will be supported with local hobby shops, Nmra , and some of the manufactures.
I hope that it can be done!!
Good Luck
Icemanmike2-Milwaukee

[Anonymous]

I'm all for getting the young folk interested in trains, both model and real. But let's leave the schools out of it; there's enough that they're not doing well, and having them fool with model trains is too much. Dad, stop leaving your kid's upbringing to somebody else and start doing it yourself. Take your son to the local model railroad club, or find a public spot where you can watch real railroading without stirring the local Fatherland Security. Take him to an excursion railroad to see big railroading close up. My dad drove me out to see the Ma & Pa as a kid. I've had those little trains rolling through the lush meadows permanently etched in my brain; a life-long love of railroads in general and short lines in particular has resulted (not to mention a career). Nothing will get a little boy's eyes wide quicker that a close up look at a living, breathing steam locomotive.

[edblysard]

Funny, I thought the idea was to get kids involved, not just sons. My 4 year old daughter reads my Trains before I do, my nine year old daughter wants to be a engineer. As for leaving their upbringing to others, I doubt that most parents do that. But should we cut otu the band program, or the shop programs because they are "raising" your kids? Didnt anything at school ever peak your interest, and you followed thru on it? The model makers would write off th e train sets, and I bet the PTA at the school would welcome any parent voluneteer to help defray the cost of scenery, and help construct the benchwork. Any exposure to the hobby that can influnce a kid to love trains is well worth the expense.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

Manufactures can afford to donate. It is there future also. Its a writeoff to them. Besides what was suggested about taking kids for rides on trains or to museums would also be a good thing for manufactures to get kids interested. Tony

[Anonymous]

Com'on Ed, give me a break! I KNOW that girls can be interested in trains. I've worked with women at the RR (although few stay more than 2/3 years. There are some ladies on this list. I know one gal who was recognized by the NMRA as a Master Modelrailroader; that's something almost no women achieve, and only a few men accomplish. But little boys (again most, not all) are fascinated by machinery; cars; trucks; airplanes, and railroads. And maybe the schools down there in Texas have time to add model railroads to their schedule, up here in the Rust Belt the teachers do everything BUT teach the three R's. Schools should teach kids to THINK and read and figure numbers; not promote the glories of our multicultural society, or yes, to give them an appreciation of trains.

[edblysard]

Hi Skeets, just twisting your tail a little, I work with a lady engineer down here too. And your right, at least in the high school years, they teach up to a standard achievement test, not a curriculum based on acquiring knowledge, like math, english or science, but just teach to the test so their school distric can garner more federal dollars. They dont care if graduates can balance a checkbook, just so long as they pass the test. As for cultural instruction, yes, I too am tired of (fill in the blank)appreciation month. The only culture that should be taught, and this comes from a immigrants grandson, is a basic American studies course, introduce them to the constitution, and let their parents and churches and synagogue teach them the rest.
But I think the original posters concept was for grade school age kids, and it would be a simple matter of allowing them the choice of recess, or working on the layout. Or it could be a after school project. If they are interested enought to stay after school...All of the grade schools down here have recess, and if you could get them interested that young, well, impressions made on very young kids can last a lifetime.
Besides, all I heard from you was its the parents responsibility. But what if the parents cant afford it, or its a single parent household, and there isnt time to pursue a hobby?
I am for anything thats gets kids out from in front of the computer or TV, and teaches them about the real world, instead of digital reality.
Stay Frosty
Ed

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to let you all know that there are some parents that introduce their kids to the hobby. My dad got me my first trainset when I was 5. It was small, but that got me to where I am now-detailed modeling (CNW, particularly). I also railfan alot, which was introduced to me when I joined a model RR club about 5 years ago. I enjoy my hobbies and spend alot of my time and money on them, while I still live at home and go to school at the same time. All the things I needed to know in life I learned from experience or my parents. High school was just a little refresher. I still do railroad stuff with both my dad, my mom, and my siblings. It's become a family tradition. Just wanted to show that it is still possible in this day and age for railroading to be a family hobby.