A torsion table.

Over the last five days a team of volunteers and I built 5 tables for ESSA. Four are yet to be assembled and all require finish. The table shown in the photo is a torsion table similar in structure to one I have coming out in an article in Popular Woodworking.

I was interviewed last week for an article in the New Republic on the subject of education. I was asked about the problem of cell phones in school. I noted that when kids (and adults) are busy doing real things, cell phones (and their distraction) are of little interest. If we get kids busy in schools doing real things instead of the usual BS, the boredom that drives kids to their phones will be decreased.

My own cell phone use fell dramatically during the last week (over 40%). 

Yes, it can be demanding. Planning for kids to do real things instead of sitting at desks while teachers drone on and on is not an easy thing. But well worth it, as it allows students to have real outcomes to demonstrate and measure their success. When things are real, no standardized tests are required to prove evidence of learning.

On Friday I had a good zoom conversation with Dale Dougherty from Make Magazine about the state of American education and how to turn things around. The torsion table shown in the photo is made from white oak and spalted sycamore. It will serve as the reception table for the Windgate Building, greeting students to the wood and metals studios.
 

Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning lifewise.