Democracy as Carpentry

Posted in DemEd in Real LifeParenting on Mar 15, 2010 - 08:32 AM

By the time my son, Ezra, was 5, he had his own set of tools (real ones) and a tool box in which to keep them. I immediately began to introduce him to a few simple principles that have now become our family carpentry creed:

1) Only use tools for their intended purpose. To do otherwise is bad for the tool and potentially dangerous.

2) Never take your eyes off your work. E.g. If you have to look away while you are sawing, stop sawing.

3) Put away your tools when you are done, even if you plan to use them again first thing in the morning!, and finally

4) If you were playing with your hammer and left it in the sandbox in the rain and now can't find it, don't expect to borrow mine!

Now nearly 7 years old, with these basic principles deeply seated in his consciousness, we have embarked on some projects together in a way that's truly cooperative. Last weekend we built 2 shelves together. And I am proud to say that I actually couldn't have done it without him.

Together, we measured and marked boards to cut. As he practiced using a tape measure and pencil, leaving just the right kind of mark in just the right place, he made some mistakes. But, I didn't need to correct him. We discovered it as a matter of course when we checked our measurements before cutting (measure twice, cut once!). He was able to see the mistake and correct it himself. Skill and experience only get you part way there. Care and attention are essential!

For example, it was Ezra who noticed when I began screwing the shelf together in the wrong place. While installing the shelves, he climbed the ladder and held his end of the supports in place, precisely on the mark, while I screwed in the ends. He watched for end-splitting that was out of sight for me as I screwed in the final finishing touches. As a split in the wood appeared he would call out "Whoa!!" and I would adjust my work.

Our partnership on this project marked our transition to a new working relationship in which we both contributed necessary skills, effort, and care. Neither his help nor my need of help was a sham. The project needed both of us and we both knew it.

As we cleaned up our work area and my wife and youngest son came to admire the new shelves, it dawned on me that we had just experienced a healthy democracy of 2. Vastly different ages, vastly different experience levels came together with equal input and equal value.

More, please.

Tags for this entry:
collaboration, real-life learning, responsibility, hands-on learning, carpentry

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