I lived right across the street from the school, S.A. Roberson, so getting there was easy. And all my friends lived within one or two blocks of my house, so we would all get together after school to rollerskate or pretend we were the cast of "Three's Company" or "Charlie's Angels." (Because one of my friends was blonde, I always wound up being the brunette character -- i.e., the one that wasn't much fun. I think I'm still a little bitter about that...)
I also remember fondly the teachers I had at Roberson, especially Mrs. Kotter, the 7th- and 8th-grade teacher. She really tried to make learning fun and keep us kids interested. I loved the days when we got to play College Bowl to see who remembered the most about the previous night's homework. I always won, but I don't know if that says more about how much of a nerd I was or how little my classmates actually studied...
Anyway, in the 8th grade, we were all required to take home-ec and woodworking classes. I can't believe they actually let pre-teens use electric saws and cutters. Heck, I can't believe they let us in the same room as them! But I loved woodworking. At the time, "Remington Steele" was the popular show on TV, and I remember making a wooden plaque that said, "I [Heart] Remington Steele." I got into quite a bit of trouble with the teacher, who did not take kindly to me using so much wood on a stupid sign. Listen, buddy, you give me some wood and an electric saw, and then you don't supervise what I'm doing, you're going to have to take what you get.
But the best, and most useful, thing I ever made was this cutting board:
It wasn't complicated -- I cut pieces of wood to the same size and glued them together -- but I still use it to this day. I've bought more modern cutting boards since then, but I always go back to my trusty wooden cutting board. It does the trick.
It's a shame schools don't offer these kinds of classes anymore. No, I never became a seamstress or woodworker, but it's an experience I will never forget and I think it makes kids more well-rounded. Plus, I got a cutting board, too. And really, can you ask for more than that?
5 comments:
I LOVE the cutting board! That's cool, when I was a kid, the coolest thing I ever made was when my Barbies got together & killed off the lone Ken doll for being a womanizer & turned him into a mummy for an Egyptology project for gifted class. & the year I took Cherokee. I feel like I missed out by not having something tangible like your awesome board. Damn.
What, you don't have an opportunity to use Cherokee that much in your daily life? lol
I made a cutting board too but mine was more for pretty...but my mom still has that cutting board! I agree kids lose something without home ec and shop...
i had no idea that home ec and woodworking were cut from classes. i learned a lot in both those! i love the cutting board! i wish i'd kept the lamp that i made.
also, welcome back to the blogosphere! thank goodness! and thank neets for the link otherwise i would've missed it!
awsome :D
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