Jeff; They are moving our Machine Tool Class to a larger school, and I'm not going to drive 60 miles each way, and I know the department head there and we don't quite see eye to eye, his idea of teaching is give them a their blueprint book and a Machine tool technology book, set them in a class room for 6 hours a day then let them start making useless widgets
My previous Dept Head and I realize that Theory is necessary, BUT get these students on the floor, help them UNDERSTAND the theory by using it making tools that they will use in their work.
We start our students learning CNC hand coding after 3 to 6 months depending on their progress the other instructor doesn't start until a minimum of one year. that leaves 4 months. Our entrant into the state competition for Skills U.S.A. came in second, his class didn't even get past regionals. Our guys come out with some good jobs and manage to hold them
And then the whole health thing, we were told by an Jerk Cardiologist I was going to have to have a valve replaced, which would put me at about a 3 -6 mo recovery before I could really get back to work hard good thing though I go in the 30th for 2 stints.
Nice thing was no body said any thing all day the students went around working as usual, then with out saying a word, we started cleaning up the shop at 10:00 it was the last day of the trimester,one kid took me to lunch, we came back finished cleaning, and at 2:30 they all formed a line at the office door, they all either shook my hand and told me they would miss me or some gave me a hug.
My boss had the kids help him load my tool box and he and the ones that were of legal age came over to my house, put my tool box in the shop and we demolished a quart of Old Charter 10 year old.
Giving back to the community really was the most rewarding / lowest paying job I ever loved. besides 65 is a good age to slow down, maybe do some more jewelry again do some shows and sell some pens,
