Not only am I mad enough to subscribe to the Baptist Times for years on end, I am also sufficiently silly as to continue to part with large sms of money to engineering professional bodies, which means more magazines to glance through and a ridiculously high rental charge for some letters (though the latter does make my 'professional' name so excessively long that I get letters where it takes two lines on the envelope: almost worth the expense!). Anyway, in the latest Professional Engineer magazine was a plug for, and a review of, this little book:
The book raises money for children's charities, so that's definitely a good thing.
It aims to raise awareness of the importance of engineering - which is also a good thing. As the old IMechE bumper sticker used to say 'nothing moves without engineers' - how true!
Notwithstanding that the book review suggests that the ideas are a tad complex for the target age range, I think it is a good idea
But....
It promotes and reinforces gender sterotypes. Grrrrrrr!
I think I'll have to write "My maiden aunt used to be an engineer but now she's a minister' (nice snappy title, eh?!) to counter some of this sterotyping. What d'you reckon?!!!
Comments
I always enjoyed one of Emily's first reading books 'Our Mum's a Window Cleaner', (except that on reflection there might have been a Johnsonian joke lurking below the surface somewhere).
I'm just in awe of anyone who can make anything move and stay in one piece at the same time.
This story from the website of Greenford Baptist Church seems relevant
"A man in a hot air balloon suddenly realised he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The woman below replied, "You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."
"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist.
"I am," replied the woman, "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I've no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help at all. If anything, you've delayed my trip."
The woman below responded, "You must be in Management."
"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault!"