Bigshot

As a "professional educator" and woodworker I could not agree more with the comments on including woodworking or any skills-based course in the schools. My current employment is Director of the Juvenile Court Schools for a MAJOR California county. Most of our students have a pattern of not attending school for years at a time and are far behind. They do not attend school when they are released because they see no relevance in the school curriculum and cannot connect it to their lives. They have no interest in boring, nonrelevant school. Woodworking or any industrial arts program may be the reason they are looking for. It may encourage them to come to school, or learn a trade they could use in the outside world. I remind people frequently that at-risk young people create at-risk societies so if we do not help these young people find their way, we will pay an even larger price for our neglect. We need more, not less, industrial arts programs for these kids. Currently, we have none but 65% of our inmates will return to us in less than 12 months..... I think that says it all.....Please bring on the shop classes!!!
bc