This was part of a post on http://www.banjohangout.org by Janet Deering of Deering Banjos 10/15/2009.
“……There are now only 11 shop classes still in high schools in San Diego area. We and Taylor Guitars are both supporting these classes with parts and materials so kids can learn the joy of wood working and also the benefit from making their own instruments. In some cases it revitalizes their interest in learning so that they don’t drop out of High School.”
How many shop classes are still going where you live?
BB
Replies
shop class?
None that I can find in the Rio Rancho public school system.
I posted a few days ago in Woodworkers Cafe about the same thing.. Sort of... It was about saving the school classes for stupid kids like I was. They called it (shop classes) industrial arts as I remember. None of us were stupid! Maybe just extremely bored with the intelligent kids classes?
I wanted to give away some tools I never use. I called all the local schools and most that answered the telephone at the school did not know what industrial arts classes were??? Really..
Not into making Banjos or anything for music. OK, so I made a Tung Drum for my grandbabies.. they loved it and drove their parents crazy playing it all the time.... :>) I told my daughter I'd get even with her....
Since when is a child BAD if he/she likes to work with their hands? They also use their brain at tasks no child in most other classes never experience. As I remember, none of the shop teachers were pushovers! I had to learn math and make a drawing before I ever touched a tool, metal, or wood. As a boy I took sewing classes.. Only boy in the class.. What fun!
Math was never easy for me.. In 'shop' I could 'see' what math was. NOT just a few numbers that had no meaning to me. Math was some object that had sides, depth, height, angles Etc. As in Geometry and Trigonometry. I learned to 'see' the math that was in the object I wanted to make with the metal, wood or cloth...
What a shame.. For the schools and for the so called stupid kids that are much smarter than they show. We were never the 'bullies' that picked on other smaller kids. We were too busy thinking of something to make! yes, we did not have many friends but it did not matter to us. We had friends in 'shop'.. Even the girls in sewing class liked me. OK, one girl (I married her) did...
As to music.. I have a 'tin ear'. I love the blues and even Opera.. I am strange... I love listening to my baby grandaughters playing the piano for me.. I'd bet they make mistakes but I only hear the good parts.
Something you may enjoy... Nothing bad in the link.. I promice....
http://www.liquidguitars.com/
I do NOT know this man or have anything to do with him. Just something I follow to see what a true artist can do with wood and metal! I think this is FineWoodworking at it's best.
I started one
Most schools here in Vermont have cut the WW programs. My partner and I started "Sawmill Studio"
last year. We have been teaching WW to 3-6 grade kids in afterschool programs. This Fall we hope to expand
to more towns and are setting up a program that also reaches younger kids too. We have a mobil tool set and benches
for up to 16 students that can fit into my pickup truck. We can use a school gym, classroom, or any open space
for class. Here's a pic our Parks and Rec Program Director posted on their site.... http://ow.ly/i/noX
GRW
Phoenix Area
One of our skool districts has a 5 course woodworking section. Problem is it is off site from the schools and you have to take a bus to the class, 1hr there, and 1 hr back, so it limits the enrollment. The current teaching is class work for college bound kids, and that leaves little or no extra time to take electives. Probably less than 1/2 pct of kids get to try this. It amazes me how many kids have never used a hammer and nail for crying out loud. Let alone a handsaw!
Shop classes are ...
now a part of most "Joint Vocational Schools" in my area. Juniors and Seniors can go to these type of schools instaed of the "regular" public schools. From Nursing, to Mechanical, to construction schooling. The senior class in the "Carpentry/ Trade" school does a complete house each year that is then sold off to the public. The new owner then has to move the house to their own location. My son is learning Automotive Tech this year. Also an Honor Student.
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