Lessons from junior high shop class

摘要

In my basement wood shop is a Colonial-style candle box made of pine. Mounted on the wall, it holds an assortment of folding rules, straightedges, and other measuring tools. It was the first woodworking project I ever created—more than 50 years ago—and it reminds me every day of where my love of woodworking was born and who I have to thank for it. Many woodworkers of my generation first experienced the joy of shaping wood as teenagers, in a school wood shop course. For me it was seventh-grade shop class, taught by Mr. C, in Hamden, Conn. Probably in his mid-50s, Mr. C was a friendly guy who was always there to help out the 15 or so boys in our class. At the same time, he was strict about safety and did not tolerate fooling around in class. The lessons I learned in wood shop continue to shape the way I approach woodworking projects to this day.