MM 1-28-12: Hauling platforms / Wood shop ghost town

[frost0813]

Recycled staging

[RUNuckinfutz]

Sounds like you opened up a box of worms, and your right... it is a shame that they have such great equipment/tools being unused. Tools that come out of some schools budget at some time. You'd be a great instructor in such a class.

[kshepthedrummer]

you should ask them to donate their machines and supplies to you for all the help you give them lol

[nokomisforge]

ya cut the school budget and get rid of the triads but keep the football team and all the other sports I think in my graduating class not one person made it to a life in the pro's in the class after me one did what would be the % of students that would benefit from the triad over sports this country thinks very backward. I blacksmith I like your videos because I build sets for a theatre and am always looking for new idea. maybe they can sell you the old tools.

[nokomisforge]

talk about over kill



[macanghear]

What kind of beer do you drink? It looks like a variety behind you.

[Buzzsawman]

it is a tragedy. in the local highschool here they have a woodshop and an auto repair shop. They teach the kids woodworking and auto shop.for only thirty minutes a day. And most of the "shop courses" are taken up by lecture. By the time the kids could actually get to use the tools, there is only ten minutes of class left....which means by the time the tool is set up to doan operation, the class is over. They do it this way to avoid lawsuits over kids getting injured.

[dethreveng]

man i agree with that last 30 seconds im in 9th grade wandering when the hell am i ever going to use this "knowledge" buy our woodshop is a joke we make puzzles lol

[Moe7133]

Lawsuit > Woodworking. :(

[KKKn50cal]

Typical government waste. Close the classrooms and do nothing.

[Scott2148]

I don't see waste I see potential! I am not sure where it started but in Australia at the moment there is a network of "men's sheds". They are community owned sheds where men can go to do woodwork or tinker about. It is also a place to talk. I think that with a little networking something could grow from your recent discovery.

[askjerry]

It is indeed a sad commentary on our society. When I went to school all the boys went to shop, and some of the girls elected to take it. Those that didn't took home economics... and at least one quarter we swapped, this gave us a chance to learn alternate skills.

It really upsets me that kids are graduating without knowing how to properly use even simple hand tools. And it is indeed a waste to have the equipment sitting unused... tragic really.

And people wonder why the work goes to China.

[houseoffire72]

I agree 100% man we need to teach our kids different trades but when funding gets cut the first to go is always the shop classes... I worked with Jr. High kids build skate board ramps for a yr as an after school program and I can tell you would make a great teacher... Maybe you can work something out with the school??? Just a thought:)

[tabhorian]

Remarkable. I think its pretty obvious why people pitched in to get you a table saw. You drive to the middle of nowhere to pick up a bunch of risers that must weigh 200 pounds each at least. Out of kindness and goodness. There is a blessing on people like you.

So, since you are already teaching, why not teach other things you know too?

[stevinmarin]

@tabhorian Thanks man...I've homeschooled my son for 14 years and now it's his time to shine on stage and on his own with what he loves. But whatever that is, I will always be involved.

[houseoffire72]

@stevinmarin Homeschool rocks! My son attend public till 3rd grade then enrolled him in a private christain school 2 days a week and home schooled the rest. His grades soared through the roof and now plays guitar very well... Much respect for being an active dad in your sons life!!!

[BFran89]

The sadness extends to military installations where there are shops full of equipment not being used throughout the nation.

[Maxid1]

I'm with you Steve! Don't teach those little brats anything. Instead I'll teach you lock pick and bolt cutter 101... We will liberate the captives!!!

[cjorg16]

Want to try to get the retired folks, to mentor HS students in an after-school shop class. Putting the forgotten shop tools back to life, and teaching cooperation, teamwork, where everyone can learn while they have fun making something useful.  Unfortunately, liability insurance w school killed that idea. So sad, to see so much go wasted.

[therccarmad]

teach man its in you to teach .its your time to shine you can do it man gogogogo

[You0wnAStore]

Talk is cheap, wood isn't. When i was in elementary school we made stuff out of cardboard, then six years later my younger brother made stuff out of wood.

[turftone]

you should go and do an after hours class and utilize all the wonderful resources you mentioned, kids need a mentor now more than ever( ipods don't count) you could be a hands on version of wikipedia!

[Jay2525Jay]

You are right, that is sad.

[sandersbig]

They probably could have built those platforms if they still had woodshop

[steveweaver69]

Steve, My state tennis daughter is now what is called a tech instructor at high school. She teaches welding, woodworking, computer hardware repair, CAD as well as other classes. I had shop in school, shows my age but I never had a 24 yo, blonde tennis champ as an instructor! She used to follow me around the house and had her own "tool belt" as a kid. Her kids like my shop and we all have a great time building stuff.

[Matthiaswandel]

Shame about the wood shop, but at least you are doing your part by showing the kids how it's done. Some schools still teach shop though, based on comments I have gotten for some of my videos.

[Look2ugly1]

Now you know where to bye your "new" table saw;-)

[bigbroaj12]

My school has giant wood shop as well. Its actually a great class because they teach how to design a project then build it. Our wood shop actually is always full.

[MarijnStevens]

They don't teach kids basic skills anymore ? WTF!



[fumbimo]

STEVE! TEACH THE CLASS! YOU WOULD BE THE BEST WOODWORKING TEACHER EVER!



[Shannariano]

Many have already said that, but if the school agrees and you're willing to do that: teach that class.

I did some teaching not so long ago and giving knowledge made me feel like I was making them better so you surely should try at least.

As for trade workers, maybe not all of them will become one, but they'll start to think that a man can help himself in the house (you said that too about your broken window) and with the little craft learnt they can fix many common house problems.

[1954BJohn]

Sign of the times ALL over the world Steve. It's 'Media Studies', whatever that is, that's what today's students are into.

[paolowolverine]

teach that class or give some money to the school and buy some of that unused tools.

[MaDeuce80]

Steve I think fate hit you on the forehead but you didn't notice. You should teach that class!

[chaddythewoodpecker]

@MaDeuce80 brilliant idea

[actorguy6]

@MaDeuce80 Yes! I hope Steve will at least give it some thought :)  we all saw the way his energy went up and the excitment when he started explaining the woodshop - this is a great idea..... so what'dya say Steve?! lol

[deezynar]

The fixation on a college degree in the U.S. is stupid. We NEED trade workers, we don't need any more lawyers.

[jawadsaadi]

What a shame, regardless of what kids will grow up to be, workshop skills are essential for their learning process and a diversity of typical class room training. Steve take it over! At least you will make it fun, maybe they had blaring teachers!

[jawadsaadi]

@jawadsaadi boring teachers I meant, but maybe also blaring :-)

[sh0rtbuskid]

The exact reason why I got into woodworking. It's a trade and in reality, it's easy. The wood does what you tell it to.And if it doesn't, you burn it. So much easier than parenting...

[22cjk007]

you should offer to teach shops there!

[Amroth228]

@22cjk007 Even if its just a small beginner class. I think the kids would benefit from it for so many reasons.

[benthesheep24]

@Amroth228 Steve would be great at teaching woodwork, he teaches me loads of usefull stuff!

[larfsen]

My first experience with a wood lathe was when I was 13, HUGE things that could (and did) rip the gouge out of my inexperience hands and threw it into the window -- apparently I wasn't the first to do it, since they had chicken wire covering the glass. ;) That's where I first fell in love with wood working, and where I first started learning. Granted, this was over 20 years ago ... it's really sad they abandoned the practice in high schools now.

[chopperboi89]

Luckily where I come from, there's a school nearby that kids get to go to in HS for half the day if they want, I took welding and auto body myself, but they have small engine, auto tech., plumbing/HVAC, carpentry, heavy equipment, cosmetology, and a bunch more.

[zimsjeep]

Seems this is the case all over. All the trade classes are gone. Auto mechanics, small engine repair, woodshop, metalshop, etc have been eliminated in our local school district. Funny because those classes are the ones I got the most out of in high school and still use the fundamentals I learned back then today. The powers that be feel there is no need to teach these things because I guess they feel it caters to a lesser type of student which is ridiculous. To them, white colar > skilled labor.

[drstampfli]

We don't make anything any more. We let China (and other countries) do that for us. We all just want to work in an office and not get our hands dirty. Once we fully complete the transformation of becoming users instead of makers, then we won't need to be invaded. China can just let us know we belong to them. What could we do about it?

It is very sad - and disturbing - that we don't teach skills any more.

One hope is that kids can find these videos - and learn from them. Thanks Steve!

[woodturningjohn]

That is one of the reason's we moved from Sacramento so many years ago, the schools just did not teach that kind of stuff any more. Here in Minnesota my daughter is know in the 7th grade and in woodshop. they teach the kids to make all kinds of cool stuff, and that goes on into high school were they also have a large green house and teach the kids to farm and garden. It was fun to here you talk about I-80 and things. It has been years since I was back.

[NeuroWrangler]

It's the same story at our local high school. But the retired woodwork teachers do run an open shop for interested local grownups to come in once a week to play with the toys. It must make a little money for the school and we have fun.

[wdworking]

I would have to agree with you Steve. What is wrong with a trade?

[NBTVer]

@wdworking There is NOTHING wrong with a trade, it is great in itself, but can also be a great stepping stone to other qualifications. I, myself amd a (retired) Electrical Engineer but started as an Electrical Fitter/Mechanic, moved on to an Electronics and Communications Certificate, and then completed my EE degree - I think it made me a better Engineer for it. I also did woodwork and metalwork at high school - thank god.

[cornflakes900]

they have wood metal and mecanics at my school

[MrDancesilly]

u should go and teach there steve!

[startreking2007]

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