Teaching Position...

[Dana Acker]

I was approached by my old martial arts Sen Sei, who is also a knifesmith, and by the Dean of Continuing Education of our local community college about co-teaching a course in basic bladesmithing with advanced courses to follow as warranted. The interviews were very positive, and construction has begun on a shop. Classes will commence when the shop is finished. About 30 people have responded with real interest. Looks to be a go for later in the fall or at most 1st of the year. I'm pretty stoked about it.

Hey--does this mean I have to take up regular pipe smoking and wearing suede patches on the sleeves of my tweed jacket? Do they even make tweed jackets any more?

[SteveA]

www.landsend.com - got a catalog from them the other night with all jackets... can't imagine what made them think I'd be interested.

[cricket]

Good luck with your new adventure...Try not to let it take all your time like the vinyard did, we have missed having you around...It's nice to have friends in low places, but your in the mountains, so that would be friends in "high" places....See Ya!!!

[elkdoc]

Are we talking weeklong courses, weekends, semester-long, quarters, or what? You're not that far away, and I may be interested...

As for the patches on the sleeves and a pipe, naw... I'm in the running for a prof. job for next fall and they'll be lucky if I show up without my sleeves rolled up. Iyam what Iyam...

[hammerdownnow]

What a dream job! How much do you have to pay them? Don't let them know you would have done it for free. haha. Good for you. See what the power of positive thinking and persevering can do? I am stoked for ya. A liitle good news is quite inspiring. You never know what lies around the next bend in the road of life. Thanks for sharing. Is it too soon to talk about ideas for inspiring the students? How about guest bladesmiths demonstrating their specialties? Looking forward to some shop pics. Again, congrats!!!!!

[TexasJack]

Talk about rebound! I'm thinking a trip to Vegas is in order. :cool:

[Lawrence Kemp]

Good deal Dana!! I have to admit that after I met Trish last weekend, I was thinking "my Bro has used up all his good luck". It never dawned on me that she might be a good luck charm!! You da man! You da man!

[Dana Acker]

I'm thinking from our talks that it'll be one night per week and possibly a Saturday class as well. As there will be two instructors, we will both share and split the time. But don't worry, it doesn't look like it will take too much time. I had to swim upstream for the last two years to get back here--I'm done swimming.

As far as I know, it will be a paid position. Salary hasn't been discussed, but with continuing ed., the pay is at the end of the course. Pretty good hourly rate, I hear, but you get it in one lump sum when you're finished.

When planning the shop, we initially asked for 8 gas forges, and two large coal forges. Most of the classes will be inside. We probably will make our anvils out of RR rail or something comparable. The first course might, in reality be "$50.00 Knife Shop" 101. Apologies to Wayne Goddard. But hey, I figure, ask for $10,000.00 worth of stuff and be happy if you get half. Better'n asking for $500.00 worth of stuff and getting half, right?

Then if I can get each student to get through the class without a trip to the hospital, and something with an edge and a point, I'll be happy. The dean told me that if it goes well, subsequent classes in advanced forging techniques, finish work, Damascus, leather work, etc. etc. may be offered. I'm pretty psyched.

Hey, I'll make it homework for them to get onto this forum--but don't believe a word they say about me.