Are Taxidermists as "dumb" as they (make us) look?

[Becky P]

Well darn, LOL, I tried. Then how 'bout the School of Hard Knocks?

[ryan rhodes]

Steve, aka elkevo, I reread it several times and now understand your dry humor and wording.  I apologize again for my poor remarks as well  Glad that you understand.  I'm not trying to make enemies, I'm just an advocate for good business practice.  I just have a real problem with taxidermists who don't treat taxidermy as a legitimate business.

[*]

That will  work Becky
I'll put more faith in a person with years of that experience over any of that there reel schoooolin" they got 

[jasonb]

The day we all quit learning is when we are 6 foot under and there throwing dirt on us.

[joeym]

*...you are correct about the school of hard knocks.  My college degree has little effect on my taxidermy ability.  It may help in my people and business skills.   I have a brother that is a natural artist since birth.  He can draw anything.  He went to art school and was an artist for "Archie" Comic books for a few years...but he could draw better than 99.9% of the population without any schooling at all!

[Rick Carter]

1977 Associate of Arts Degree in art from Anderson University, 1979 Bachelor of Arts Degree in art education from Southern Wesleyan University, 1981 Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Southern Wesleyan University. 1981-2008 Taxidermy education from school of hard knocks.

[Becky P]

Oh, looks like I'm in good company, Rick's also a student at the School of Hard Knocks, LOL. Only one question about that school - do we ever get to graduate

[Rick Carter]

You graduate when you either die or totally quit taxidermy. 

[Becky P]

LOL, looks like I'll die in class then, that last test will be a killer.

[PLTannery]

High school Graduate. No extra (besides tan and tax. schooling) and I've Never held a 9 to 5 job working for someone else. (whole entire family is self employed- has been for the last 15+ years)

Went thru all 12 years of school thinking I was gonna be  a Vet, Got out and Decided I didn't want to spend 8+ more years in school so. Happened upon a situation that got me into tanning- A career my job counsler never told me about (taxidermist either).  Never looked back. Now most people wonder about the choice- Going from Keeping animals alive to working with dead ones. 

Shelby

[maketoys]

I hesitate to say that I am a dentist.  It brings up many comments.  Most negative. I went to the school of hard knocks from age 12 on but I bootstrapped my way through college.  BS in biology from WVU and DDS from WVU.  I'm doing taxidermy because I enjoy it. I also paint but taxidermy helps to pay for supplies.  Now I hope y'all don't slam me too bad.  I know everyone hates the dentist and the costs.  In my life I have found that formal education means little to the intelligence and integrity of people.  I grew up poor and have seen both sides of the fence.  I, personally, enjoy the skill of anyone who does a good job.  I enjoy watching the cooks at Waffle House.  Some of them are amazing.  To quote a movie I saw recently that I hope Tom Cruikshank(sp?) has seen "I think careers are a 20th century invention".  The movie is "Into the Wild".  An excellent movie about the search for meaning, along the lines of "On the Road", "Easy Rider", or Thoureau's "Walden Pond".  I don't think one's formal education has anything to do with wisdom and how they live their life.  I've met people who are educated and successful who are scoundrels and I've met people who are not educated who seem to have the wisdom that I long for.  I've also found that vice versa is true as well.

[Lisa M]

Maketoys...excellent observations!  As for you being a dentist & admitting it here...don't worry about anyone slamming ya.  They will or they won't.  It doesn't matter.  You're still a man making a living...supporting his family.  A guy I went to taxi school with...he's a dentist out in Arizona some where I think.  He makes dentures and I can see how many of his skills for that trade transferred over to taxidermy. 

We all have a skill set...whether we are construction workers, care givers, dentists, store clerks, scientists, truck drivers...we all have things that we are good at.  No matter what those skills are, I think being able to bring passion & love with you to work...IMHO, I think that's what makes for an interesting life.  College works for some people.  Others drown in that setting.  I did.  (Maybe that's why God gave us that baby when we were so young?)

I've been surprised by some posts within this thread.  Some of you have much more "Book learnin'" than you've let on. Then there's others that for some reason, when I was guessing in my head at the start of this thread, I had decided in my mind that you'd completed college, but it turns out you went to Life College instead.  All worthwhile and interesting degrees. 

Thank you for beginning this post PWS. 

[Tom King]

I'm with Rick on this one .....I'm from the school of hard knocks........My education is obvious from my writing ........I was too busy drawing art pictures in school instead of paying attention........Actually I have had higher paying jobs..........I just do what I love..........You can be happy with less money or be miserable with more money............Sometimes we get lucky and we can be happy with more money...........Taxidermy can be big bucks,It just depends on how business Savvy you are..............That goes with any business.............I have several trades and actually I like them all but Taxidermy is my Passion...............Tom

[Nickie]

In my life I have found that formal education means little to the intelligence and integrity of people. 

So very true.

[11PYBOWHUNTER]

I got 3.5 years of college and 4+ years in the Army.  I am now enrolled in University of Phoenix which offers online courses.  I should finish my Bachelors next year sometime and then i will move on to a Masters.  I would highly advise those who have wanted to go back to school but think they can't to look into online colleges like University of Phoenix.  Online courses are the new thing, kinda replacing "Distance learning" which was the fad when i was in college.