Over there on the right where the "about me" thing is, Shop Teacher Bob says he's teaching the latest that Sloyd has to offer. That's kind of an inside joke for old shop teachers like myself who still maintain that the world would be better off if everyone got some tools in their hands and learned some real skills when attending school. The Sloyd System or Educational Sloyd has been around since about 1870 and is a teaching method that incorporates using the hands to make products (mostly associated with woodworking but also included metalworking) and was the forerunner to manual training, practical arts and other similar educational movements. It's still possible to buy a Sloyd knife - I have one naturally enough - but the educational pendulum has swung about as far away from that movement as it can. Let's face it, it's kind of hard to have a system of education that requires woodcarving when they won't allow knives in school. There is hope, however.
As always, the faithful cling to the hope that good sense will return and the truth will once again be known. At The Wisdom of the Hands blog, a woodworker and teacher is singing the praises of "hands on" learning that would make old Mr. Sloyd's day. Of course, there never was a Mr. Sloyd and I absolutely despise the old chestnut "hands on" learning. The hands never operate on their own. They are not independent contractors. They do what they are told. Granted, if you watch a real craftsman at work you might get that impression but they are receiving inputs and giving feed back the whole time they are creating useful and beautiful things. Absolutely no different than the musician. A violin virtuoso, or a brain surgeon for that matter, doesn't get to that level with hands that operate without the brain calling the shots.
Mr. Doug Stowe, the author of the aforementioned blog, is a teacher at the Clear Spring School in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Clear Spring School is an independent school that clearly focuses on many of the best of the time tested ideas in education. The school has the students building a boat, going camping, taking trips and basically giving them a very well balanced education. It is what education should be as opposed to pounding a bunch of crap down the little darlin's throats in order to pass a state mandated test and then sending out into the world a batch of kids every year who don't know whether their ass is punched or bored.
If you are at all interested in quality education, a little research into the Sloyd System with maybe a little bit of Dewey or Pestalozzi thrown in just for grins might make you wonder where it all went wrong. I went to Purdue Calumet the other day and they were promoting experiential learning on a big billboard - that's basically "hands on" learning dolled up with a little lipstick and a skirt. So maybe the pendulum has started back towards the realistic and practical zone. At the very least, I would definitely urge you to check out The Wisdom of the Hands blog. Mr Stowe sings the praises of a proper education in a very clear and beautiful voice.
5 comments:
Good post, Bro.
"They are not independent contractors. They do what they are told." - You're right of course, but it doesn't seem like it when you slice, dice or smack 'em in or with something. That's where keeping the brain engaged comes in I suppose. (He says while looking at several scars).
I think maybe your eyesight might have a little bit to do with the scars, or maybe it was the beer. It does seem a shame that for all our hands do for us we treat them the way we do (He says while also looking at several scars).
Eyesight and Beer - Great name for a rock band.
Baby Jimmy wants to do an Appleseed shoot this Summer. June or July, I forget which. But are you and maybe Surly interested?
Would be a good time.
Surly and I have already talked about Appleseed this summer. It would be great if we could all get together.
I get back with the Kid and get the dates figured out and let ya know. He was talking about a shoot up his way. I figured knowing him if I don't go there it won't happen.
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