Bjorn Apprenticeship

What a long thread! Of course it needs MY two cents.

I think people some confuse internship with apprenticeship.
  • An internship is for people who already have the skills for the job, to get real work experience.
  • An apprenticeship is for people with no skills, to learn a trade.
Not the same thing at all, in my opinion. And let's remember that apprenticeship was the only way to learn a trade until the invention of universities. And with either method somebody must pay for the privilege of receiving an education.
 
leus said:
What a long thread! Of course it needs MY two cents.

I think people some confuse internship with apprenticeship.
  • An internship is for people who already have the skills for the job, to get real work experience.
  • An apprenticeship is for people with no skills, to learn a trade.
Not the same thing at all, in my opinion. And let's remember that apprenticeship was the only way to learn a trade until the invention of universities. And with either method somebody must pay for the privilege of receiving an education.
Click to expand...
That’s not an accurate definition of an internship or an apprenticeship exactly in my understanding at all.

You can be an intern for David Letterman and not know anything about the “biz” or a writer’s room, or anything beyond a textbook or you were funny some etc. (yea Dave example)..

On the other side of the coin you could grow up in a wood shop and have leagues of experience over someone at your same standing, even older whatever, & you may be taking on the same apprenticeship.

For another example, I don’t think most folks from the west who get a bonsai apprenticeship in the east, “have no skills.” -and visa versa?

don’t think it’s usually some dusty blank slate kid who shows up anymore in either situation, and if they do, think I would argue more often the intern with a book in their hand knows less

perhaps the key word I’m missing is trade and now it’s all just job without vocational education any longer..?
 
IsaM said:
...It feels like a bit of "people were unpleasant to me when I was an apprentice so I'm going to make it unpleasant for you".
Click to expand...
They must think.... "I have someone working for me. How can I get the best from them? I know, I'll treat them like shit".
 
TN_Jim said:
That’s not an accurate definition of an internship or an apprenticeship exactly in my understanding at all.
Click to expand...

The National Apprenticeship Act

This is for registered programs, but the general standards apply. The bigger your organization, the more visibility your apprenticeship program will have. And once again - if you start treating your apprentice like an employee... but don't pay them like one... you are running a risk. I have plenty of stories that I cannot share about big name organizations and big fines.
 
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rockm said:
I have to laugh a bit at the outrage here. Yeah, it's tough and yeah, it's free labor. BUT, this kind of thing is basically a path to your own bonsai business. What is in the job description is exactly the same thing foreign bonsai apprentices in Japan did (like Bjorn and Ryan Neal). They have capitalized on that relatively harsh experience to build their own businesses here using it as a marketing point. The apprentice at Bjorn's will be able to leverage his experience in the same way (not to mention probably gaining access to "inside" stuff, contacts, etc. in the position.)

I see the job description as weeding out the unserious candidates up front with dose of reality.

The Japanese model of teacher/apprentice model has always been a bit unforgiving and harsh. It's meant to harness humility and obedience into learning. Not everyone's cup of tea, but it is what it is. This "free labor" type of apprenticeship isn't limited to bonsai, FWIW. I have a friend who did an apprenticeship at a whisky distillery in Scotland for years. He took the summer to travel to the distillery and work long hours doing menial labor (as well as learning how to make scotch). He PAID for the privilege.
Click to expand...
Exactly, no free lunch
 
So if they make nice trees and are total pricks we should listen to their advice above all else? @Brian Van Fleet ?
 
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SouthernMaple said:
Did he ever hire anyone new? The guy I knew had to get surgery and had to give up the apprenticeship in order to get medical attention.
Click to expand...

No. When I last talked to him, he's no longer looking for a new apprentice. He's planning on running the nursery by himself for a while
 
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