I am a social teacher, solid wood wrorker and pretty good framer. Zero formal shop teaching experience.
Next year I am running a new program in my school w here I take a group of gr 9 boys (good boys that are rough around the edges) outside for the last hour of the day to build sheds, play houses and anything else I want. Everything they build will be sold and profits go to charity. I am really excited about the project, great way for me to end my day, oh ya–the kids will like it too.
I feel perfectly comfortable teaching the kids all the skills they will need. I am very concerned about our school divisions bean counters and the newly hired safety NAZI, who I know has been all over shop teachers.
I am looking for a resource that outlines/simplifies safety guidlines for power toolsand what I need to ensure I cover before I start using them. Can anyone point mein the right direction?
Tools we wil use:
tablesaw (SawStop hopefully)
chop saw
circ saws
Replies
I feel the best way to teach them at that age would be with the basics and how to use hands tools properly first. power tools are just an extension of hand tools and they come later. you just have to learn how to teach them and keep them interested at that level. and the one thing that will really turn them off are tools that cannot do the job efficiently. that means efficient hand tools which translate to being sharp. it is the challenge of teaching them to respect the tools that they have to work with and not to bugger them up. your not going to like this suggestion though as you more than likely don't know yourself. you will teach them good work habits and things that they will carry through their life that they won't forget if you can get them to respect you for it. you won't have to worry about the safety nazis(as you call them and that attitude will refect upon them) as much
ron
I'm a collage trained Shop Teacher. I currently teach hand tool program to 8-12 yr olds.
My thoughts are...
1) use the tool manfacturers safety documents as resource for your training program. That added to your
knowledge will cover at least 95% of what they need to learn. Teach them what they need to know, without
overloading them. Teach only a few points at a time.
2) your training should include some information about the material being cut so they
understand what they are cutting, dust hazards, and such.
3) after a student is trained, he/she must demonstrait to you the proper use of the tool on each point
of which they were trained. (A driver's test) If they pass ALL points. They will be formally certified by you.
Certifacations will be in writing, and available at the work site.
This helps limit your personal liability, and determains who can use each power tool.
4) any student who improperly uses a tool looses their certication, will require retraining, and re-certifacation
before they are allowed to use that tool again.
How does training in collage qualify you to teach shop class?
GRW:
I see the parallel between making a collage and making a piece of furniture. I both cases you cut out individual components and then glue them together to make a whole, functional piece. Maybe I'm biased, I just don't see how training in a 2-D art form qualifies one to teach woodworking which is three dimensional. Is this the current way colleges go about educating industrial art majors (so they can receive their teaching "certifacations")? No wonder the quality of public education in America is down from 30 years ago.
gdblake
P.S. I seem remember learning about "demonstrait" in 7th grade social studies. If my memory is correct, it is located somewhere close to the southern tip of South America and pure hell to sail a ship around.
I Agree
gdblake,
I agree, our system of public education needs some work. A BS in education may just be BS.
This degree doesn't ensure that a teacher can actually teach. Nor did I mean to say I was a good
teacher. (I teach a Parks and Rec Youth WW Program, not in the public schools)
The originator of this thread has made an effort to collect ideas that may help him improve
his skills or methods. He did so (I assume) by trying to reach experianced folks like yourself in hope
of learning from the experiance of others. Doing so may help him improve his teaching methods,
in turn improving his small part in the education system. To him I say thank you.
Those who wish to become public school teachers find that a education degree is a proven path.
It will not ensure that they will become great teachers. It does ensure that they as collage students will be exposed to
others with experiance/skills/ideas and methods of teaching that can be a resource for them in a classroom.
Much like the originator is doing here.
If you are unhappy with the current education system, you're not alone. If you want to use me as a
punching bag for your frustration, go ahead. If you don't like my limited typing skills, have at it, if it will
make you feel better. My only intent was to provide my personal thoughts about the originator's thread.
I apologize for misplaced humor. Check w/ Habitat for Humanity
GRW:
My intent was not to use you as a punching bag, but rather to use your misspellings to poke a little fun. I apologize for my misplaced humor. Normally I try to be constructive and not destructive with my posts. Your point is well taken.
I would suggest the original poster contact his local Habitat for Humanity for hands on advice about safety. They require every volunteer to attend a safety session and to wear appropriate safety gear. They have a good track record on safety and I believe they would be happy to assist any way possible.
gdblake
No harm done
gdblake,
Thanks, no problem. Sorry if I misunderstood your intent. Good idea with H for H safety training.
GRW
Thanks GRW, that is good advice
I am not a shop teacher, but I don't envy your task in today's litigious society, which has necessitated the hiring of "safety Nazis" by the school. All too often, parents will look at a child's injury as a means of retiring off the proceeds of a lawsuit against the school and/or the teacher.
On the practical side, however, I'm of the opinion that the best safety device is still the tool-operator's brain. If a kid (or, an adult) is taught to look at the tool, think about the operation it is designed to perform, and then think about what it would feel like to have the tool rub against a finger at whatever speed it is going to operate, self-preservation instincts will usually kick in. The trick is to think about that every time the tool is picked up or used, not just the first time.
Yup
I can't remember our safety guys actual title, so I called him safety NAZI.
To me the worst part is HE was a secretary for years in our school division. He took some courses and now he is our safety guru. I don't think he has ever held a job where he has used a tool. But he is a master when it comes to paperwork and hoops.
He walks around with his camera taking pictures of dangerous sitruations and worse yet, poor housekeeping!!!
"He walks around with his
"He walks around with his camera taking pictures of dangerous sitruations and worse yet, poor housekeeping". sounds like he is doing his job!. look at it this way, if there were no dangerous situations and worse yet, poor housekeeping; to take pictures of , he wouldn't have to be there.. at least he can recognize the problems.. I wonder who permits these dangerous siuations and poor housekeeping exist?
one of the other respondents to this thread stated that he was a college trained shop teacher. what is the difference between him and the safety man who took some courses.
what is a solid woodworker?
"what is a solid
"what is a solid woodworker?"
One that has be regulated into rigidity? ;-)
that is just what he said that he was and I am curious
ron
OK
My wife and own a clothing store, I built all the racks, shelving etc in my shop from maple, hickory, and birch.
Since the store opened I have had two job offers as a finished carpenter and several offers for contract work: bunk beds, coffee tables, desks and so on. I took none of them.
I likely have more experience in framing, but I don't enjoy it like woodworking.
Sid,
"what is the
Sid,
"what is the difference between him and the safety man who took some courses."
The only difference I see is that a collage trained teacher can get certified by the
state to teach in a public school. I understand it can be done without collage, but
it's not as easy to find employment.
There are great craftsman who can't teach and shop teachers without strong tool,
material, or design skills. I like the idea that the origanator of this thread was
asking for ideas that might make him a better teacher. I have taught kids programs
before, and I just started again. I came to the nice folks here for ideas that might
be better than my own when it came to project ideas for my program. I thank those
who helped me. And my hat is off to this originator for trying to create a sound training
program for his students.
Shop and 9th grade boys
Well hold on to your hat this is going to be a steep learning curve. I have been doing what you are talking about for 17 years. Maybe a few thoughts/recommendations would be helpful.
1. Keep the projects small. Building sheds takes time. In the beginning, these boys can be IMPATIENT. They are from the microwave and instant message generation.
2. I dropped back from large buildings: nailing, frame work, blueprints ......these are skills learned over time. I found making a few music speakers for cars and speakers for their rooms was a killer success. They need to take something home to THEIR HOUSE. They need to have something to show to Mom, Dad or the "Guardian" in some cases. It can be a picture frame of them in the shop with their "homies" just doin' it. They take it home and brag. Without that bragging right, your course will be just another course they sit at the dinner table and tell Mom: " oh we worked on something" type deal.
3. If you build things and they don't get to take something home... you will not get parental support. Go to the bank with that simple fact. I spent a year building a bi-plane with 10 students. We had tons of financial support, lots of media coverage, I got to test fly it and it went away to another state. When it flew away, a part of them went with it. Years later, they come back and talk about the tools they have at home that they made to "get the airplane" in the air. They need to have something they own.
A few ideas.
dan
Fair Point
First of all, these are farm boys and most of them have spent a fair bit of time helping dad, they are more capable than most boys their age. A few are sons of carpenders too, they are pretty capable.
The other goal of this project is aimed at these boy's attitudes, their attitudes to school suck. Very negative. The general idea is to have them do something for others and give them something to be proud of and make them feel productive. Because of that, they don't need to take anything home. They already have shop class separate from this as well .
Thanks for your help
OK, guys, lets give this man
As a retired shop teacher and a carpenter, here are my suggestions... First, EVERYONE should have, and WEAR a pair of safety glasses. The school should supply them as they are inexpensive. Each student should have their own set of hearing protectors. The type that looks like headphones with stoppers on the end work quite well. If you're building sheds and similar work, you really don't need a tablesaw. Yoy will need a chop saw or a sliding compound miter saw (SCMS). You will aso need a 'skil-saw' or two, some clamps and a straight-edge. You will need a few tape measures, and at least one framing square, along with the usual assortment of hand tools. Do not forget to have a hand-saw or two on the jobsite. The students have to know how to read a ruler (tape measure). No if's, ands or buts. It is a basic skill that must be mastered, or you will be tossing out lots of mis-cut materials. At one time, Stanley tools published a pamphlet on how to use the framing square. It had lots of good info in it. Unfortunately, the framing square has been replaced by a speed square, and it is not the same.
MY biggest concern for YOU is that you have not gone through FORMAL safety training, and if the S*** hits the fan, the schooldistricts lawyers will not give you the backing up that you will need.
Before starting these students on something as big as a play-house, start on something small, like planters that the chamber of commerce will be able to use on 'Main Street'. It's good publicity for your program and for the Chamber of Commerce.. . If you're building sheds, be sure you're working on a level surface so the structure will not 'rack' when moved to another location. Use two rows of concrete blocks to act as a foundation. First, it gets you off the ground when you're framing the deck, second, blocks can be removed so you can slide a lifting system under the structure to get it onto a truck to move it when it's done and sold. Watch any of the cable chanels that show house movers, you'll get the idea fairly quickly.
REmember, INSIST on QUALITY. from the students. They will rise to the occasion.
SawdustSteve Long Island, NY (E of NYC)
No, I don't neeed a table saw, but if the division is offering to buy it, I'll take it. I don't know what the future will bring for this program, but I do know they will only buy me tools once.
Liability does worry me a lot, and that is where I am really looking for help in best practices to teach before we start using a tool. But, I am in Alberta and there is no formal shop teacher training left here. It is a real issue here, you must have a teaching certificate to teach shop and today you can only get it through a BEd. Trained shop teachers are in huge demand here.
As for hand tools,to be in this program you must supply your own. Each boy must supply his own tool belt, that is how men work, you show up with your own tools and that is how this program will work. I have the parents backing me on that too.
Starting small is a good plan, I as thinking picnic tables, but planters are a good idea too.
Thanks for the input
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