An explanation from one of the members of the tech department:
"The Ministry of Education start point:
The most recent (senior) Ministry curriculum document lists my subject area as Technological Education, Transportation Technology, College Preparation. That name (Transportation) fits well with the broad based approach to technological education. I understand it is a subject name and not a course descriptor name, and I also understand that course descriptors may be personalized by the school for their calendars, but it is a good place to start conceptually.
How about Auto Mechanics? (as a course descriptor name for the calendar). A mechanic is a person who works on mechanisms - mechanical objects. At one time, long ago, after the death of the horse and before the birth of the computer, transportation technology probably could be described as the use and repair of mechanisms or mechanical objects, mostly. Those folks, mechanics, wandered the earth with their knuckles dragging the ground from the mid to late 1800's until some time in the 1970's on. After that, they either reinvented themselves or they ran screaming in fear and frustration from the Transportation trades. I don't know where they are now - check the jails and the bars. We haven't had any "mechanics" as the primary caretakers of transportation technologies for a long time now. So, that term is out, permanently, unless we all decide collectively to go "Back to the Future".
What about "Auto Maintenance"?:
"Maintenance" sounds like sweeping the floor, washing the car, or maybe even changing the oil, but it sure doesn't sound like modern diagnosis and repair. Truck fleet maintenance (my previous career) involves a series of inspections, service procedures, diagnostics, and repairs. The most complex maintenance procedure I had to do as a Ryder Truck Rental technician was called a "C4" maintenance inspection, and you were given a week to do it. It involved a complete in-frame engine overhaul (new pistons, sleeves, injectors, turbocharger rebuild and on and on, as only one of many steps. This was all "maintenance" - the truck wasn't broken, and the procedure was based strictly on vehicle mileage. Like an oil change is. A little more than a wash and wax, what? That is why the term "maintenance" doesn't ruffle my feathers even a little bit. I do "maintenance" with a great deal of sophistication and pride, and I teach it that way as well.
How About College courses?:
Colleges use two terms commonly to describe their courses. "Service" (about the way we use "maintenance" here), and "Technician". If we all agree to convert from "maintenance" to "service", my response would be '6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other'. I'm fine with that change, and it fits modern terminology very well.
How about that "technician" thing?. Well, that is the word that has permanently replaced "mechanic", once computers came along and transportation devices started to include a lot more than just mechanisms. For example, the woman who used to be an "automotive mechanic" in the old days would now be called an "automotive service technician". If she fixed trucks, the conversion was from "Truck & Coach Mechanic" to "Truck & Coach Technician". You can see the new trade title includes both College course descriptor titles - "service" (for the car part, anyways) and "technician". In Ontario, "mechanic" lives on as a trade title, like this: "Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic", and "Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic". As you might notice, those trades usually (used to) work on mechanisms, but that too is changing and has changed pretty rapidly so those trade titles aren't really keeping up with the times, either. So, "technician" is thoroughly up-to-date, relevant, cool, and groovy. "
Definitely could not have said this any better. B
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