tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post2193083793573393289..comments2024-03-26T07:00:11.620-05:00Comments on Wisdom of the Hands: poverty, television and American educationDoug Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-6132988308203984062011-07-15T06:41:51.764-05:002011-07-15T06:41:51.764-05:00I was just perusing your wonderful blog for the fi...I was just perusing your wonderful blog for the first time, read this post and started to reminisce. My Mom was a temporary woodworking teacher in the Boston Public Schools during World War 2, when there was a scarcity of men to teach woodworking, and I still have her "patterns" in a box in the attic and the drawings of the simple things her and her boys would make in class.<br /><br />My Mom grew up poor, but she did so much with her hands, so much more than I do. She sewed all my clothes, and when we moved to a place with some actual soil, she started a vegetable and herb garden. She was very patient, and I remember if the stitch wasn't quite right, she would carefully rip it out and do it again, never getting frustrated or upset, like I would (because I was programmed for immediate gratification). She made me some beautiful things, timeless personalized classics, a whole wardrobe for my first job as a legal secretary.<br /><br />I valued those clothes because they were different, and I knew the work (and the love) that went into them. I kept them for a long time after I could not quite fit into them anymore, and when I needed space, decided to give them away to <a href="http://www.rosiesplace.org/" rel="nofollow">a place</a> I respected that could us some business clothes for its clients.<br /><br />I never did much with my hands except type ... but I suppose it's not too late (before arthritis sets in!) to develope the patience and slowness it takes to plant a small garden, or make some light and cool summer dresses because you absolutely hate all the soul-less ones you see in the stores.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your experiences through your blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-40939883669639198042011-05-03T21:55:25.967-05:002011-05-03T21:55:25.967-05:00Ashleigh, good luck with your paper. I hope it tur...Ashleigh, good luck with your paper. I hope it turns heads. The correlation between screen time and a variety of problems for teens is more well documented than the link between smoking and lung cancer, and yet we do nothing about it.Doug Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-86767530658966964952011-05-03T21:21:15.177-05:002011-05-03T21:21:15.177-05:00Thank you so much for this great information! I am...Thank you so much for this great information! I am a senior at John Brown University and I am currently writing a paper for a media class about the effects of television on children. I am including a portion about children in poverty and how they are even more affected than other children. I am using this post as a source for my paper! Thanks again!<br /><br />AshleighAshleigh Deanhttp://www.ashleighdean.posterous.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-55328692735340217312011-01-28T21:56:00.139-06:002011-01-28T21:56:00.139-06:00Doug -
I agree it's unacceptable to have chil...Doug -<br /><br />I agree it's unacceptable to have children in poverty. For the moment though, it's a situation we are stuck with, some portions of the country more than others. That is the frustration I was trying to express.<br /><br />Chris -<br />There's research into your question - check into occupational therapy, specific disabilities and maybe a private school in Houston, TX catering to special needs students. I work as a wood-working teacher to special needs kids, and I probably wouldn't have this job if there wasn't a study supporting me.WoodshopCowboyhttp://www.woodshopcowboy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-84424552442025024072011-01-28T09:17:07.553-06:002011-01-28T09:17:07.553-06:00Chris, you are certainly welcome to use the NEAWT ...Chris, you are certainly welcome to use the NEAWT pdf. We published it for free distribution in support of woodworking education.<br /><br />I would be glad to go over your proposal.Doug Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-68516137025530720602011-01-28T08:54:56.058-06:002011-01-28T08:54:56.058-06:00Thanks Doug-
I will have to find a way to use thi...Thanks Doug-<br /><br />I will have to find a way to use this knowledge to fuel my program's furnace. So far so good. 2 more questions though. 1, Would you mind if I were to use your pdf for NEAWT when the time comes for me to present to my town's administration? It would be a big help. 2, Could I send you a description of the program once I have it better organized? Your feedback could help. <br /><br />-ChrisChris Sagnellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09325679500057317981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-11481960608967699812011-01-28T06:15:34.805-06:002011-01-28T06:15:34.805-06:00Chris, children struggling socially or emotionally...Chris, children struggling socially or emotionally can have trouble with woodworking just like any other kid may find it difficult. Many kids are so into computer gaming, because that is where they've been allowed to hang out, the the slower pace of cutting things from wood is difficult for them. But with encouragement, even difficult students slow down, become attentive. there has been a notion that kids who aren't intellectual must have some other compensating gifts. Like hand skills or athletic skills are automatic for those who are not as smart. They are not. But if you can learn to take a straight shaving off a plank, you have learned a thousand things.Doug Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-66533066164600559332011-01-28T04:51:56.957-06:002011-01-28T04:51:56.957-06:00Doug-
I'll be reading this document today. T...Doug-<br /><br />I'll be reading this document today. Thanks. In addition, what is your knowledge of the success of woodworking with kids who struggle socially and/or emotionally? Has specific research been done that I can call on? I am thinking of making my program cater specifically to these children.<br /><br />All the best-<br /><br />ChrisChris Sagnellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09325679500057317981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-85894256766127888232011-01-27T22:17:00.141-06:002011-01-27T22:17:00.141-06:00Chris, you might want to print out the pdf 21 reas...Chris, you might want to print out the pdf 21 reasons for Woodshop in the 21st Century in the file "published resources" which you will find as a link to the right. That was a document I helped NEAWT develop for distribution to school administrators. Some administrators understand the value of woodworking education and some do not. Some will take very little convincing. Perhaps you will talk to the right one. If you hear the word "no" don't give up.<br /><br />Cowboy, I think that the idea that it is acceptable for some children to be raised in poverty is an unacceptable notion, but one we seem to be stuck with.Doug Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-44464234183325896152011-01-27T21:18:11.574-06:002011-01-27T21:18:11.574-06:00I agree with your connection between poverty and e...I agree with your connection between poverty and education. And I think you hit the nail on the head in regards to national will - education and poverty both can be alleviated in America, but we lack the will to execute the deeds needed. Sometimes I think that is the ideological price Americans pay for being American, sometimes I'm just frustrated by it.<br /><br />Thanks for the words -- PWWoodshopCowboyhttp://www.woodshopcowboy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-13736368951812295262011-01-27T21:09:15.681-06:002011-01-27T21:09:15.681-06:00Doug-
I am very interested in the progress of woo...Doug-<br /><br />I am very interested in the progress of woodworking programs in schools. I have begun to write up a program of my own that I intend to present to school administrators around my area of CT. I have a few leads right now, but mostly I am curious to see how it will be received. Any advice?<br /><br />ChrisChris Sagnellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09325679500057317981noreply@blogger.com