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Wood shop teacher set a bad example

Letters to the Editor
Published October 28, 2003

Re: Photo of Rick Homer, wood shop teacher, Oct. 21 Top of the Class page.

Editor: Where did this teacher get his training to teach wood shop? If that's an example of how he teaches, he should be fired. This is an excellent example of how not to use a table saw.

The first thing in teaching anyone how to use power tools is safety procedures. This is a good example on how to lose fingers or a hand on a table saw. I have seen men with missing fingers because they did not use a blade guard or push sticks to cut wood on a table saw.

Not only should this teacher use safety goggles when using power tools, but anyone observing the procedure should also be wearing them.

Woodworking is fun. I have been working with power tools for 50 years - table saw, band saw, lathe, drill press, etc.

My next question is who is watching to see that teachers are qualified to teach the subject and who is monitoring the class to see that the students learn and follow the proper procedures? Accidents can and do happen in shop classes. Losing a finger or an eye will affect one's life dramatically.


-- F.J. Wilkinson, Spring Hill

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