[TheForge] Blacksmithing Diplomas/Certificates

[Ron Childers]

Dan, welcome to the world of academia. You will be subjected to the whims
and idiosyncratic nonsense of people with a rather narrow perspective. For
years the art department at FSU resisted the students creating anything
functional. Granddaughter changed that so art students could use the Big
Blue and forges to make something besides jewelry.

Google FSU art dept. Try also Vocational Technical Consortium of States.
Maybe you can pick up a few ideas.

Years ago when I was in mt masters program @ FSU and teaching @ FAMU CETA
the PHD's wanted to change the name of everything. I wrote a curriculum
guide for the Vocational Technical Education Consortium of States and by the
time the academicians finished "editing" I hardly recognized it. They called
it Performance Based Objectives and Criterion Referenced Measures. Now you
have a Taxonomy of Performance Indicators. The political correctness
movement started about 30 years ago: mankind = person kind, Man hole =
person hole, the text, "The Instructor and His Job" became "Instructors and
their Jobs"; same content, but we had to buy new books to comply with the
directives of the political correctness police. 

Just more academic logorrhea to add to our cognitive overload. 

Ron C

 


-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dan Armstrong
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 9:30 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Blacksmithing Diplomas/Certificates

I am a self-trained blacksmith who has taught smithing at an art school for
several years. By self-trained I mean that I've taken many weekend to week
long workshops over the years and then incorporated what I've learned in my
shop and then in the classroom.
    The art school has now been assimilated by a community college and I am
being told that I need to improve my 'formal training' in blacksmithing,
i.e., take a course with a certificate or diploma at the end of it. The
Artist Blacksmith Certificate at Fleming College in Haliburton, Ontario, is
suggested as an example of a suitable course (4 mos. full time) OR
'acceptable equivalent'.
    I'm wondering what acceptable equivalents may exist out there. I know
Penland offers 2 month courses but am not sure about their academic
viability.
    Anyone have any thoughts? I'd rather go somewhere other than Ontario,
ideally in the western US or Canada.
    Thanks for any help.

Dan

ps: I have run through the various websites listed under ABANA's Resources
list.


August 2, 2006 4:45 PM
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