I began my woodworking apprenticeship work study program at our school last Friday. I have 5 apprentices working 2.5 hours a week earning minimum wage. This is a lot of money for them if you consider what they usually make while in a school building. I know that we are supposed to be teaching lessons through english, math, science and history to our children, but what about the other lessons that kids need? Most people categorize these as "character traits", or the "lifelong lessons" that you learn (if you are fortunate enough) in school. But what happens when kids act up, shut down, get marginalized, or simply just don't "fit the mold" of a traditional working school? Do they get lost in the maze, flounder or drift? And what do we as educators do? Do we get aggravated? Do we stick to business as usual, aka our curriculum? Do watch it happen knowing what the most probable outcome will be? Do we try and lead them into a new direction? What do we do?
There are a variety of alternative approaches out there, I am simply trying one of them. I have chosen to challenge my students to tap into their best by working with wood. It works. So far. But I know there are more ideas out there for sharing that can help benefit kids in need....and there are tons.
Please share some of the approaches that you see work. Solutions that are viable alterantives for the probelms facing our kids in schools across the country. Let this be the beginning of a dialogue that we can share for as long as we can, and need to.
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