In this article, the author argues that teaching "technological literacy" at the expense of hands-on skills training is wrong for the students, wrong for the economy, and wrong for the nation. Students need not only the opportunity to explore a variety of trade skills but also the opportunity to learn a skill well. It is in the teaching of these skills that a wise teacher incorporates those STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) elements that are appropriate. (Contains 7 endnotes.)