Hi folks,
I'm on a mission! I have as of last year been put in charge of the woodworking and construction program at our local high school. Last year I taught part time, two classes twice a week and every other week I taught Fridays as well.
I came into the shop and wondered what I had gotten myself into. the place was an absolute disaster of monumentous proportions. I can't even begin to describe the absolute and utter chaos. Well I can give a hint. Not a single machine had a guatrd on it, and the benchtops were piled 2 feet high with broken tools, lumber scraps nuts bolts pieces of machines and power tools. For every group of 10 power tools, maybe 2 worked and had all the pats to it. It was bad!!!!
Anyway, I have spent the last year rebuilding and restructuring the place. I have two shops, the front shop is for carpentry and the rear is for woodshop. I've created a curriculum and been able to replace bits and pieces here and there. many a late night rewiring drills etc.
Im trying to find out if anyone knows of an organization or group out there that donates or supports the vocational arts programs. They are on the upswing after many years of beng considered either too expensive or not worthwhile. I would venture to believe that anyone r4eading this would agree that voc arts should be put back into all schools.
I'm on a shoestring budget and still need more handtools. Drill bits, drills, chisels etc. I've taken a lot of my own tols into the shop for the students to use, but still end up with a student waiting for a tool and we all know what happens when an 8th grade student doesn't have anything to do…..................
Everything is going really well with the program to the point where I signed a full time contract and I now have 5 classes, 5 days a week.
I suppose I should also ask that if anyone out there has any old tools that may even be in need of repair that they could donate to a worthy cause, it would be appreciated. I'm hitting up swap meets and used tools stores, but after spending close to 2k last year of my own money ( on a quarter time teachers pay) for tools and expendables, I need to find some outside support.
Anyone have any ideas…......
I'm on a mission! I have as of last year been put in charge of the woodworking and construction program at our local high school. Last year I taught part time, two classes twice a week and every other week I taught Fridays as well.
I came into the shop and wondered what I had gotten myself into. the place was an absolute disaster of monumentous proportions. I can't even begin to describe the absolute and utter chaos. Well I can give a hint. Not a single machine had a guatrd on it, and the benchtops were piled 2 feet high with broken tools, lumber scraps nuts bolts pieces of machines and power tools. For every group of 10 power tools, maybe 2 worked and had all the pats to it. It was bad!!!!
Anyway, I have spent the last year rebuilding and restructuring the place. I have two shops, the front shop is for carpentry and the rear is for woodshop. I've created a curriculum and been able to replace bits and pieces here and there. many a late night rewiring drills etc.
Im trying to find out if anyone knows of an organization or group out there that donates or supports the vocational arts programs. They are on the upswing after many years of beng considered either too expensive or not worthwhile. I would venture to believe that anyone r4eading this would agree that voc arts should be put back into all schools.
I'm on a shoestring budget and still need more handtools. Drill bits, drills, chisels etc. I've taken a lot of my own tols into the shop for the students to use, but still end up with a student waiting for a tool and we all know what happens when an 8th grade student doesn't have anything to do…..................
Everything is going really well with the program to the point where I signed a full time contract and I now have 5 classes, 5 days a week.
I suppose I should also ask that if anyone out there has any old tools that may even be in need of repair that they could donate to a worthy cause, it would be appreciated. I'm hitting up swap meets and used tools stores, but after spending close to 2k last year of my own money ( on a quarter time teachers pay) for tools and expendables, I need to find some outside support.
Anyone have any ideas…......