Submitted by Greg Alderete.
Everything I Needed to Know I Learned While Using a Bandsaw in High School
In the seventh grade at JE Murphy High School, I stood in front of a band saw for the first time. It wasn’t just a machine; it was a teacher in disguise. What started as a lesson in shop class quickly became a blueprint for how to navigate risk, responsibility, and precision—lessons that have stuck with me ever since. I learned that life, like operating a band saw, is about respecting the tools at hand, making thoughtful decisions, and understanding that a moment of carelessness can have lasting consequences.
Using the band saw required my full attention. The whir of the blade was a reminder that focus wasn’t optional—it was critical. I couldn’t cut corners, literally or figuratively, because the machine didn’t allow for mistakes without consequence. From that, I learned the importance of being present in the moment, fully engaged in the task at hand. Whether it’s in my career, relationships, or daily life, I carry that lesson with me: pay attention, or you’ll pay the price.
Risk management also became a tangible concept in that shop class. The band saw wasn’t dangerous by itself; it was dangerous when misused. I had to assess the risks, use the proper safety measures, and trust my judgment. Life operates on similar principles. Success often involves taking risks, but those risks must be calculated. You can’t let fear paralyze you, but you also can’t charge ahead recklessly. I learned to respect the blade, just as I learned to respect the challenges I face in life.
Finally, precision was everything. A band saw doesn’t reward hasty cuts or sloppy planning. If you want a clean result, you have to measure twice, plan your moves, and commit to them with a steady hand. Life works the same way: the effort you put in determines the outcome. Whether it’s building something, learning a skill, or pursuing a goal, the principles remain the same—take your time, think it through, and be deliberate in your actions.
Looking back, that simple seventh-grade shop class was far more than a lesson in woodworking. It was about learning to trust myself, manage risks, and focus on what matters. I didn’t realize it then, but the hum of that band saw taught me everything I needed to know about staying sharp and steady in a sometimes unpredictable world.
Outstanding summary my friend…..truly awesome !!
Too bad that these kind of teaching, learning, and life lessons have pretty much disappeared from our so-called “learning” institutions. Y’all will not find that depth in English, Math, Social Studies, etc. because they only scratch the surface of what is important in life’s truly important lessons….well done, Sir !!
Yes, so very true. And we definitely need to bring back shop classes. Not every child needs to go to college. There are so many wonderful careers available from skills learned in shop classes. We need these woodworkers, electricians, mechanics, plumbers…just as much as we need doctors and lawyers. And, as you so creatively pointed out…learning respect for these tools and the consequences of mistakes is an important life lesson for everyone.
My black walnut pen holder and cherry wood flying ducks were gifts to my Mom and Dad back in the winter of “69”. Mr. Ogden was the quintessential WoodShop teacher at Woodbrook Junior High. With all the knuckleheads running around we all managed to cut, router, saw and stain our masterpieces to perfection….or at least a b-.
I totally agree, Greg!!
They taught my 4 boys a lot.
They should never have taken Home economics out of the system either.
These kids today could really use that part of life’s education.
Thank you for excellent observations.
Definitely echo what Pat said above – bring back the shop classes! Not every child was created to be a ‘white collar’ worker; some have wonderful potential to be a great mechanic, plumber, welder, woodworker, and such. Although my career was in the office, my relaxation time – my joy – is in my shop, working with wood. My mom still has the cherrywood cutting board I made for her in Junior High, decades ago. I am so thankful to have learned proper use of tools, how to design, and how to work safely from an instructor at school. Some of these skills actually did help me to eventually land a good job as an office professional because I knew something about it all and could work with those who did them. And I continue to APPRECIATE those who I hire to do those ‘blue collar’ jobs because I know a little bit about them, thanks to wood shop, metal shop, weld shop, auto shop, and Home Ec. Every now and then, I’m able to put even my basic skills in those areas to work in service of my family – and sometimes my community. I strongly support bringing back shop classes!
Well, I completely agree that I wish these classes existed in middle school and high school, something really important to remember is that when these programs were done away with, the spaces were taken over for other purposes and all those expensive pieces of equipment have long disappeared. It would take so much money to re-create these programs and it’s hard enough to get folks to pass levies and bonds for the academic basics to be taught. Thankfully, Pierce Skills center offers amazing courses for high schoolers wanting to go into all sorts of trades, so shop classes are available, just not as conveniently as in the past.
Greg Alderete,
I agree with Mr. Eric Chandler’s comment above.
To support your message, I would like to share my shop experience. In 1957, I signed up for 7th grade wood shop.
I clearly remember the safety lesson our instructor provided on the first day of class. We were working with table saws, not band saws, but the lessons you described were the same.
He had the entire class stand near the running table saw, but out of the line of fire. He then took a small piece of wood and set it on the table saw. He said, pretend this is your finger just before he took a second piece of wood to poke the small piece into the spinning whirlling saw blade. The blade grabbed the wood scrap violently, and with great noise, power, and speed, flung the wood across the full length of the shop. I have remembered his safety lesson for almost 7 decades every time I work with a power tool.
Do you want to know something else more remarkable? I remember my wood shop teacher’s name 67 years later. Before you judge me to be a genius with a photographic memory, I hasten to inform you that his name was Mr Wood. No, really. I could not make that up.
The shop class was unforgettable. Yes, we should bring shop classes back into our schools, if we are to improve education for our young people coming up.
Joseph Boyle
Shop class provided me with important early work skills that helped put me through college While I didn’t enter any of those “blue collar” occupations, I was able to parlay those skills into a real estate career, self help abilities (I can fix anything) and enriching hobbies. I still remember my 7th grade shop teacher’s invention of “Primitive Pete”, a character who misused tools often to the detriment of the tool, the project and careless user. The rules were rules and if you violated them you stood to pay the consequences with some iodine and a bandage! Life’s lessons learned along with life’s skills. That is what an education should be about.
Mr. Arbeeny,
According to your obsessive letters in the Suburban Times where you evaluate students and our school district based solely on high stakes test scores, it is quite refreshing that we now hear that you benefited from a very different type of education that was removed from most of our schools in the late 90’s. Being close in age, you and I never had to take yearly standardized tests. We have nothing but subjective grades to prove we earned credits for a diploma. We did have the benefit of a more well-rounded and balanced education where those who chose “hands-on” learning opportunities were respected. Students had ways to explore their interests.
I’m curious why you have failed to acknowledge this in your plethora of letters where you pretend to be an authority on education and child development? When was the last time you wrote about the need for “hands-on” classes for students so they could learn life lessons? Was the removal of these opportunities to engage students of all types in our schools a possible contributing factor to attendance issues?
According to you, a student is undeserving of a diploma if they do not wish to follow a college pathway; students are just data points for you to play with. I have heard nothing in your letters about testing data to indicate you give a hoot about anything but once a year test scores. You know zero about who those students are, how they learn, where their talents excel and what they aspire to be. Thank goodness people are waking up to the fact that there is more to preparing students for success and independence than a once a year test. Stop pushing the expectation every child wants and/or needs to go to college!
The comments from those who experienced the valuable skills and lessons learned in woodshop should make you think about what our students have lost. The equipment and tools were taken away so more time could be spent preparing for the endless testing on which you now measure every student and judge whether they even earned a diploma. The pendulum often swings too far.
Cheri Arkell,
I respectfully have an alternative view when compared to your comments.
While I am not authorized to speak for Mr John Arbeeny, having read his previous “plethora of letters,” it appears that he is not judging students based on test scores. Mr. Arbeeny did not devise and implement the test score system.
What Mr Arbeeny is saying is that based on the test score system in place, Clover Park Schools is not doing well by the students to help them achieve at a more successful level.
In addition, his comments seem to support “Blue Collar” classes such as wood shop.
The bottom line is the Lakewood school system has two choices.
#1 Eliminate the test score system. which may include a battle with state law.
#2 Manage the school system to solve attendance problems, teaching problems, and learning problems to improve student performance whether a student selects the college or non-college route.
Mr. Boyle,
I will assume you have zero idea that there are now multiple pathways students may take in our state to a receive a diploma. The single focus on college being the only successful goal for all students is what has been “disastrous “. Mr. Arbeeny knows this, but it doesn’t fit his narrative that you are so willing to believe.
The bottom line is this:
1. Do your homework before believing everything you read by Mr. Arbeeny or anyone else. Calling our school District “disaterous” based on what Arbeeny puts out is unacceptable research and would score below standard on a criteria based rubric. Our students are graded only on standards and strict rubrics. Best if you learned more about standards based assessments.
2. Go to the OSPI website and look up “pathways to a diploma”. You will find the new requirements that students can follow to a diploma. SBA testing is not a requirement in all pathways. Choice and common sense have finally returned! Students and parents are now able to make better decisions earlier and select the educational path they want to take. You and Mr. Arbeeny have a lot to catch-up on. Ask him why he hasn’t???
“Being close in age, you and I never had to take yearly standardized tests.”
Wrong again as usual.
I went to school in New York State which from time in memorial had the New York State Regents tests every year in high school for English, math, science and history. That test score went next to the “subjective score” which was based upon in-class testing to ensure that what was learned in class corresponded with State standards.
Thanks Joe for setting Cherri straight.
Well, Mr. Arbeeny, it appears you hold Washington State students to a higher standard to prove academic achievement than when you attended school in New York. Students in New York can pass the exams with a 65 out of 100, that is the equivalent of a D. You seem to be perfectly okay with that low expectation for you , your classmates, and current students. People need to question every claim you make.
How is it that you also failed to add that all NY Regents exams are being phased out by 2027. Why? ….because colleges are focused on high school transcripts, overall grades and the types of classes students completed and NOT on state achievement tests taken on one day of the year. It’s called looking at the whole body of evidence of what a student has achieved rather than just one speck of data. Try to stay up to date.
One last observation: When you call up a plumber who makes a darn good living, do you ask if he or she passed the Language Arts SBA in 10th grade or are you more interested in their ability to problem solve your plumbing issue and to provide excellent service? Stop telling our students that they are doomed based on your faulty thinking about tests and what they tell us. You and your CARES buddies have intentionally trashed our students, teachers, administrators, and community enough.
Not surprising: NY is perhaps even more liberal than Washington. DEI strikes deep. So I guess you think the SAT’s are also passe.
CARES has not “trashed” anyone, least of all students, teachers and community. I thought you understood Joe Boyle’s comments. Apparently not.
I do use facts (which you seldom if ever refute) to hold the Board, Superintendent and administrators accountable for the deplorable state of academics in District and many of its schools and unwillingness or inability to do something about it. If they won’t admit to problems and do so publicly, then nothing will occur to improve the situation and the public will remain unaware.
I had to laugh when you mentioned that a 65% in NY regents was the lowest passing grade with a “D”. Yet you are perfectly willing to give a passing grade in the combined ELA, math and science academic assessments of CPSD (31.7%), CPHS (20.8%), Lochburn (12%) and Tyee Park (21.8%). In NY those kinds of grades are way below a minimum passing “D”! They are deeply in “F” territory. No, I don’t hold Washington students to a higher standard but I do hold them to standards set by Washington’s own OSPI.
Don’t be so dismissive of a plumber’s need to succeed at ELA, math and science. I have been a plumber and supervised plumbers for years as well as framers, carpenters, electricians, roofers, pavers and concrete contractors. They all have to read plans, instructions, building codes, understand applied mathematics and science to an extent that an education major can’t imagine. That’s one of many reasons why you have to call a plumber and I don’t.