I don't know if this is the right place, but I wanted to say something about Joan's question that said that teachers should teach more about reinforcement. I do try to bring it into my classes. I have a really weak little piece with lots of hinges that I show my classes. I take it in my hands and it does a back bend. And I always show them the repairs that I am working on and show them rebar, saddle bars, whatever I have around. And I show them windows that are bending and bowing and talk about why. But most students don't really learn until they want to do a project that needs some help. I have had students that were in the same class come in the next week and one swears that I told them something and the other swears I didn't. So in that case, I don't think it's my fault. And I have some students that just want to make something out of stained glass just to say they did, and next month they will take basket weaving or cake decorating or tole painting or... and they don't really want to learn anything or have a skill they can use later.
So I say, yes, the teacher should teach, but the students also have to be ready to learn.
Rebecca
Rebecca, I know that there are great teachers out there, and shop owners too (you being one of them).
My daughter and I took classes together, and worked at the same work table in the shop where the classes were held. She designed and constructed what looked to be a beautful mirror. When the entire project was complete, and she was ready to bring it home, it broke. Naturally my daugther was upset. Not at the teacher but that it broke. The teacher never once told her that she should reconsized the design or that it needed reinforcement.
The teacher (in a nasty tone of voice) told 2 of the other students it was my daugther's fault that it broke, cause it was a weak design. Well, the way I look at it, the teacher should have instructed her as to how to make it stronger, or to scrape the design all together.
That is why I have a bad feeling about teachers who don't teach re-inforcement. Students who are showing an interest in going further than a one time first piece, should be instructed and not left to fend for themselves to learn everything the hard way. It would be different if a person is renting usage of the studio and tools, but "classes" means that someone is supposed to be teaching.
I know that you teach, and do a great job at it, just by the way you take the time to explain an answer to a question on the forums. And there will always be students who say "no one ever told me that", but after following the forums for almost 2 years now, it does seem that this "hinge" issue has been missed by far to many teachers. Being still fairly new at glass and glass design concepts when I found the forums, I was shocked to hear about hinges and would have never known to even ask the question of my teacher at the time, without the forum.
I thank my lucky stars to have found the forums because I know my design knowledge and ability has improved because of them and they are "Free" (wish we had the little smily that bows down LOL)
