JD
It is great to have you here . Feel free to put in your two cents worth (is
that now a buck and a half after inflation?). Just think of the new students
who, under the guise of enthusiasm, asked a question about something you
read a thousand times and you realize you never looked at it that way
before. Minor revelation is still revelation. I am amazed at how many times
a newcomer to turning or lots of other things has made me look anew at the
obvious that I have forgotten. Jump in here. It is a good group that mostly
realizes a good question can be as valuable as a good answer. Happens to me
in Bible study as much of the time as I let it. The rule likely apply to
turning as much as Bible study:

1) the pastor is not always right
2) the other opinion is always valuable, even if wrong and certainly if
right
3) nuisance value is vastly under-rated
4) questions can be more valuable than answers
5) questions without answers are generally worth pursuing
6) good answers lead to good questions

This is not a definitive list of rules {see (1) above}but putting expert in
for pastor makes them work for wood turning and most other stuff. Remember,
the pastor is only expert in the perception of the people, if he or she is
expert in his or her own opinion, that person is not qualified for the job.

Ramble, ramble, ramble...... Have a good one.
--
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS Canada
http://aroundthewoods.com
http://roundopinions.blogspot.com
"JD" wrote in message
...
What has been your experience in teaching and in turning wood? Just an
outrageous ploy to get you to start sharing the things you know ...or
as with many of us here the things you think you know.

Arch,

I think there are a lot of similarities in wood turning and teaching.
I see a lot of freshmen walk into my classroom the first time and
after a few days with them, I feel like I know which ones are going to
make it and which ones aren't. More often than not, I'm surprised at
the end of the semester when I find my assumptions were totally wrong,
those I thought were good to go, partied their way out of college.
Those who I thought would never make it, knuckle down and get the job
done (with a little encouragement and a firm push). Turning wood is
similar because there has been several times when I selected a piece
of wood from the pile knowing it was going to be the best I've ever
turned, only to see it turn into some horrible creation that I
couldn't get the dog to eat from. Other times, I feel I'm wasting my
time finishing a turning because the wood just doesn't seem to have
the right shape, figure, grain, etc. only to find out when completed
and a nice finish applied that it was actually a very beautiful piece
to behold.

I guess the hardest part about teaching, and wood turning, is that you
have to face the reality that you can't get it right every time. I've
been crushed when a bowl cracked while on the lathe and I've been
crushed when a student I've worked hard to get excited about gaining
an education decides to walk away from it and quit. All you can do is
chuck another piece of wood in the lathe and look forward to the start
of the next semester.

JD