Yesterday in Harold Ritchie’s 6th hour Wood Working II, students are continuing a five-month project which involves building an end table. The tables are required to have a drawer on top and a cabinet below, and have an older design about them.

“This is a long project,” Ritchie said. “We have been working on it since second quarter, about mid-November,”

This is the largest project of the class. Students spend about a month learning how to use the tools and what they need to know. The students even do a smaller project before the real one to help them get use to the equipment. The second semester grade for everyone in the class is mainly based on its completion and quality.

“This is all about details,” Ritchie said. “Everyone can use tools, but it’s details that show your commitment,”

Instead of academic skills, students will learn many skills to help them in trades, particularly carpentry. The students get to keep all their completed work, but they must pay for all he materials and use of the equipment.

“It would be great if students could do this for free, but the school budget doesn’t allow for it,” Ritchie said. “Students pay for all the materials we use.”