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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default Answer to wheeling around in Wot is it thread in General Metalwork

    Hi Wheelingaround,

    Don't be shocked.
    I feel the need to enlighten you.There were a lot of years between and very different circumstances and two radically different groups of students students .The cohort group inflicted on me were totally different to the groups you and I may have been a part of.

    I should know, because like your good self I was was also trained in the late sixties by very experienced teachers for whom we had a certain amount of respect.

    Even in Tafe you were supposed to work in your trade specialty. Due to long service and shortage of the fitters and machinist teachers, I became the missing instructor.

    This particular class group were mainly ex school ferals from a Commonwealth program to reduce the dole numbers program. If the recipients of the dole were in training they were not counted as being on the dole.

    This group came to us courtesy of a CES contract or who ever they were called at that time. We had some great groups but this was not one of them.

    My mate ,a pawnbroker had one of these students try to pawn his Commonwealth provided embroidered work shop clothes and boots.

    The plan came from the drill and tap section of the appropriate module and it was my job to instruct them in how to drill and how to tap.

    We taught to the requirement of the module . The toolmakers clamp is not part of the boilermakers tool kit.Remember, boilermakers fabricated and welded but did not use toolmakers clamps and possibly walked past one in the fitters shop. Ok ,since I have seen pictures but never even had occasion to see a toolmakers clamp used.
    My scant toolmaker clamp knowledge came from this forum.

    The clamp plans fitted the outcome which was, to be able to drill and tap with safety and to a set competence. To be taught and learn,any student needs to be present in the class for a goodly amount of time. This group had a high absence rate. I chucked one or two out of prac class as the came back to class after lunch either drunk or stoned.


    Did I feel guilty? Not a bit. One of the few classes I was really glad to see the end of.

    So, a short story made long, that is the story why they were never instructed in the finer use toolmakers clamps.

    Grahame

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,996

    Default

    Grahame thanks for that explination, however it still leaves me bewilded that after all those years you have not taken the time to delve into what you are/were teaching.

    Yes I recall the days of teachers teaching wood & metal work who had never gone through a trade but teachers collage or Uni. My head TECH teacher was son of a truck body builder he hared getting his hands dirty, collar n tie man. The other 3 they all were hands on.

    I witnessed a few tradie dads who had come to the school furiously demanding they be sacked due to their outlook not just to students whos fathers were tradesman but because these were kids of tradesman. Some wanted nothing to do with those kids who's dads were over in Vietnam be they reg or conscripts. My own dad a supervisor in clubs or pubs. Yet many teachers were pots going to the early openers of the day, stories of their weekend bouts getting pye eyed. To the point one teacher slung himself up on a bench and slept for 90mins period.

    I learnt about these at school, made the one and only one I have (want to make more). I've used it a few times but not in the last 30 years.

    An old gent taught me as a very young boy never ever stop learning ! Try learn something new daily even if it is a new word or skill.

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