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Russ you most likely are a natural teacher, at my last real job I trained employees at times but that was one on one and they had a job to do. A class of high school teenagers? forget it.
My Vo tech teacher in high school is very likely the reason I am doing woodworking today.
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Russ, the four who are really interested are the ones who deserve your attention and you should just dismiss the other 20. I would think you'd have more success creating 4 good woodworkers then 24 half interested ones. I can't think of any of my teachers who were "inspirational". My woodshop and metalshop teachers were "instructional" but it was the drive inside me that furthered my interests and talents.
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I was one of the twenty when I was in 4-H as a preteen or young teen but I was bit by the woodworking bug and wouldn't realize it for 25 or 30 years. You never know what seeds will grow and when.
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Teaching is for sure a special calling. It takes a special type of person to do it the way it should be done. I had some very good, "old school" tradesman who retired from work and took up teaching - in both high school and woodworking college. I still think of them often, and what they tried to pass on to me.
I am not bad one on one. Had lots of co-op students over the years, some who are now in the trade. I have my first student starting this week, in my "new" shop. First one in 5 years. The last one I had is working in another custom shop after attending college, and is doing well. It is a great way to show the younger generation what this trade is about and give them a taste of day to day life in the shop.
Brian, I always like your tables and other stuff - unique. I wish I had access to some native woods up here, but all we have is black spruce and jack pine. Great for making 2x4's but not much else..
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I guess you could come down here and smuggle some nice walnut, cedar, and oak trees back with you. lol