Woodworking for Wii
Written by Michael Vass
In America one of the biggest concerns that few are speaking about is the loss of creativity in our students. Cutbacks in school funding across the nation has caused the end of band, art and shop programs. Add to this failure to stimulate the minds and hands of our youth the invasive predominance to play video games over other social or creative activities and the future innovators in America look scares and bleak.
Of course this is hardly an event that is isolated to America alone. Across Europe and in England similar combinations of obsessive game play and re-orienting of curricular schedules is becoming the norm, though in far lesser degrees. But unlike in America some educators and creative competitions are not giving up the ghost yet.
This is something that I think we need to pay attention to. One of the best solutions I’ve heard in some time hails from Britain. It is a combination of providing the youth with a creative spirit and feeding their need to be digital.
In Neath and Port Talbot there is the Fitchett and Woollacott Student Woodworking Competition. This competition is open to teenagers from 11 to 18 that have made woodworking projects.
Teachers are able to submit the handicraft of the labor of these nimble minds, and the students are the one that can gain the double bonus of winning. The winners’ school will be the recipient of specialized woodworking tools to further enhance their creative outlet, and those of future generations. But that is not the only prize. The winning students will also gain something as grand as being acknowledged for their efforts. They stand to win a popular and oh so must have iPod or Wii gaming console.
I love this idea. The children are getting what they want while gaining something far more important and life changing in the process. This is the kind of stimulus our children in America need. It’s the kind of education that America must have, and in a decade or less will be screaming for. So let’s be proactive.
No Child Left Behind is a failure. Rote memorization is fantastic for zombies and robots, but does nothing for the inventive spirit that has led America to lead the world in technology and economics, to say nothing of freedom. Britain has given America many things over the years, from items to intangible ideas. I think this idea is just one more that I feel we need to integrate.
Do you agree? Is this the kind of education you want your child to get? Or can you improve on the Brits?
December 18th, 2008 at 7:18 am
What a great article. I really like the idea of stimulating our children’s minds to be creative. There is way too much tv and too many video games in todays society. Programs like this are greatly needed.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:47 am
Great post!
-David
http://www.woodforums.org/
January 10th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Yes, creativity seems to be a thing of the past. I dread the day my son goes to school and finds none of the following:
- art
- woodworking
- music
- drama
Unfortunately, the economic situation isn’t helping much.
February 17th, 2009 at 8:58 am
This is a great way to motivate kids, by offering a prize they would die for! A lot of kids might try wood working just to have a shot at winning the prize, then realize how fun and rewarding wood working can be!
June 16th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Hey give them what they want and they’ll cooperate. Whats nice is were giving it to them in a willingful tone and they gain much needed creative skills for it.
I am an avid woodworker for ten years and shop was too dangerous in our schools.( thats what they told us) IT’s a shame because the trade is thirsty for experienced workers, and all we get is regular joes with none. Teach kids how to succeed in life not just get through high school. This is my belief, you gotta teach them how to learn. thats what we need, is more learners than know-it-alls.
Learn how apply fasteners and other woodworking techniques. Less about sewing, clothes are disposable now, who sews?
Grandma yes, beyonce’ NO
Teach them valuable morals and the like. Give them a gaming system,ipod,or money and watch them react. I love the idea
June 26th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Having 3 children of my own, I look forward to them expressing their creativity in any way they can. Today, there still is some wood creativity in scouting which really brings them back to the basics of hands on.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:43 am
I’m a woodshop teacher and thanks for that vote of confidence. Every time I tell someone what I do I immediately know a birdhouse story is coming soon from their past.
I love to hear that some of if not the best memories they have of their public education were not from the textbook, but from areas with saw dust and grease.
Safety-wise- it can be a scary world- however I take lots of precautions and try to safely get kids familiar before we get too far!