Disturbing News

[template tom]

I have just returned from a trip over East (Sydney) and I was speaking to a Technical Teacher who is employed by the New South Wales education department and he informed me that all routers will be withdrawn from the school system or it may have only been the the 'Hand held Routers'. I am seriously thinking of writing to such an establishment and inform them that there are are safe methods of using the router and they should continue the use of routers in the schools.
What are the opinion of my fellow 'routologists'?
I would be interested to hear from you on this topic.
Tom

[ejant]

Sounds like routers are getting a raw deal.

They are no less safe than the user or how the user is taught to use the router.

Does this school allow the use of radial arm saws?

[Woodnut65]

Routers are safe machines if used as they are supposed to be. A ban on routers will
probably not be any more effective than the ban on guns they have in Australia.
Teach the students the proper way to use the machines, and teach them to respect
what the machine is capable of if improperly used. Woodnut65

[BobandRick]

This sounds like teaching methods that need adjustment not removing the router from the class. I work with a college instructor that works at Teacher Education in the woodworking area and maybe instead of banning the router we need to update the curriculum to include the router more.

On this side of the pond we have teaching techniques that endorse the use of the most versitle power tool in the workshop...the Router.

If there is any way we can help, let me know. Dad has retired from the same Teacher College and I know it would be a mistake to take the router from the students of New South Wales.

Rick

[template tom]

Thank you all for your support I do intend writing to the education department to express my views on the matter. I would have called in to see them and give a demonstration but they are 3,500km from here.

If you have any comments to support my request for them to re-consider their decision I would appreciate your help. I know I have my own ideas re using the router, where I consider it to be much safer with the use of the template guides but this requires the making of templates and jigs. So please anything you have let me know.
Tom

[Dewy]

When I was at school woodworking became a choice subject in the second year at the senior school (age 12) but we had to drop a favourite subject, art.
Two years later it became a choice between woodwork and biology so we could do art classes again.
We only had hand tools and were taught to use them safely.

Woodworking and metalwork were removed from the UK national school curriculum a couple of years ago so many schools are disposing of the fine machinery and tools they had to teach kids with.
In a country that led the industrial revolution with machinery the loss of metalworking is sinfull.
The huge increase in the DIY market will leave millions of kids with no teaching in the safe use of the tools they will later use to improve their homes.
With an engineering father and cabinetmaking grandfather I had a good grounding in tool use which was reinforced by the safety taught at school when we were shown how sharp chisels were and how to use them safely.
In 30 years as a toolmaker I only had a few minor cuts and a couple of bruises.
The only accidents at home were when a spanner slipped a few times when working on the car scraping my knuckles.
I can see the day when accident units are full of newly married men who only wanted to improve the home for their wives.
Already most power tool accidents happen at home because of lack of safety training while professional workshops have very few serious accidents because safety is drummed into the employees.

[JamesEMc]

It sounds like a "knee-jerk reaction" to an incident or accident. It would be interesting to know what happened and why. If someone as hurt as the result of a lack of safety training (or understanding), it should result in upgrading the safety training, not withdrawing the device from the curricula. I look at tecnical training as providing a means to teach the use of tools to those who will go on to use them, just as academics are taught to those who will go on.

[template tom]

Originally Posted by JamesEMc

It sounds like a "knee-jerk reaction" to an incident or accident. It would be interesting to know what happened and why. If someone as hurt as the result of a lack of safety training (or understanding), it should result in upgrading the safety training, not withdrawing the device from the curricula. I look at tecnical training as providing a means to teach the use of tools to those who will go on to use them, just as academics are taught to those who will go on.

Thanks James
I will add all the responses in my letter As they are on Holiday until early Feb. this will give me time for any more suggestions or ideas from any one else who may wish to comment.
Here is a comment for all

'Do you think I should mention in my reply that I teach Blind people to use the router with Safety' (After producing the jigs and templates for them) I may have the opportunity to pay them a visit the Education Dept in March when I am accross for a meeting.

Attached are a few pics of a couple of my students and some of the work they produce

Keep the comments coming in please

Tom

[PEARCO]

Tom,
I just looked at your pictures and my hat is off to you and your students. Very good work


Jim.

[Bob]

Tom,

Their work under your supervision is remarkable. This is a very touching post and I am proud to see you fill such a calling.

Safety is always the first concern in the work place and I believe you are a prime example of success in that department.

Merry Christmas.