Woodworker's Journal summer-2009, страница 51

Wisdom from the Shop

Woodworkers who were lucky enough

to take shop class in school often look back fondly on the experience and the wisdom they learned there and they're willing to share their

own "shop lessons learned."

Chris D'Esposito's desk is made from African ribbon mahogany.

Student Creations

Before taking George Trout's woodworking classes at Springfield [Pennsylvania] High, "I used to build ramps and stuff for my skateboard, but nothing like this," said high school junior Brett Shaffer.

George says, "We do simple joinery that a 14- or 15-year-old can handle. I like to teach it as a problem-solving technique. If you have 100 pieces in your project, you have 100 problems. It's a way to train creative thinking."

Students' works are displayed to the community at an annual show. "There are a lot of parents with tears in their eyes," George said. "Even if there are production mistakes that the kid and I know about, the parents don't see them."

Junior student Amanda Gessay said she sees her future woodworking "not as a job, but as a side hobby in my garage. I don't think I ever want to give it up. I think I'll like it forever."

High school senior Matt Blackburn built a cherry clock after starting with simpler projects.

Paul Steiner's shop class in Woodbridge, Virginia, made over 1,000 wooden toy trucks for Toys for Tots.

Thanks, Teach

Thanks for your article on 'Trucks for Tots." Your article brought back great memories of my high school years and one of my greatest learning experiences: building Toys for Tots with instructor Vernon Pack at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah. I still use the lessons learned from Mr. Pack regularly. Mr. Steiner may not know today what his impact will be on his students, but for me it was a turning point in my life. Keep up the good work, Mr. Steiner, you are changing lives.

Scott Dixon Roy, Utah

56 Wisdom From The Shop