CTE New Teacher Institute Forum: 2nd Financial Burden: Maintaining an adequate Tool Base

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FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).

This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!

Blog Post - Week 7

This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6

For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5

This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4

Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3

Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2

Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1

Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?

Thursday, February 28, 2008

2nd Financial Burden: Maintaining an adequate Tool Base

It's one thing to have the funds to by materials for a sizeable woodshop, It's another to maintain your shops tool base. If you don't have enough tools then it doesn't really matter if you have the material or not. Without tools you can't build anything anyway. I know that many of you are in the same boat. I wish I could get my students to care about our shops tool base. I found a tape measure that someone had tried to cut with a compound miter saw. A big chunk was taken out of it and you could clearly see that it was done by a large saw blade. Some of the kids have found that you can place a small block of wood under the saw, get the blade reved up and then just touch the blade onto the block of wood; it sends the block of wood reeling across the room! Well, in the process, the side angle indicator was broken off of the saw. If you don't hold the piece of wood that you are cutting then it could be sent reeling across the room or damage something in the process. In this case it was a $330.00 Compound Miter Saw that has been rendered useless if someone wants to make a compound cut. The piece that was broken off is made out of cast aluminum. I'm going to try and see if the Metals teacher can fix it. Sometimes it really makes you feel like giving up. Maybe what I'll do is go back to using just the basic hand tools!

3 comments:

joec said...: Having encountered a similar problem, I "batter" the students with hand tools before they ever touch a power saw. Good luck with your $.
joec; February 29, 2008 at 6:45:00 PM EST
Connie said...: I know how you feel. I have some really nice mannequins, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, etc. I upsets me when the kids don't appreciate the nice equipment that we have. If they tear it all up, there will not be anymore for the next bunch of students to use. There is no more money in the budget. And next year's budget looks bleak.

I wish we could order enough books to issue each student a book. But I have 30 books. That's it. And it disturbs me when I see the kids deliberately drop their books on the floor. Or pick the book up by the front cover. Or write and draw in the book. Or "accidentally" tear the pages out.

Somewhere along the line they never learned respect for property. Whether it is your own property or the school's property, it should be respected.

When I was a kid, I treasured everything I had because I knew if I tore it up there would not be another one to replace it. It taught me respect for what I had. I'm still careful with everything I have.; March 2, 2008 at 6:14:00 PM EST
Dr. J said...: Sometimes I think the youngsters are "victims of prosperity." Everything has always been provided at such a high level for them. Yes, many come from poor families, but think about poor today versus poor in days gone by. Any ideas for teaching respect for tools and equipment out there?
Dr. J.; March 3, 2008 at 11:11:00 AM EST