NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 15, 2019 9:58:03 GMT -5
I got this pictures from my sister yesterday. I had made them for my mother. But these are my first attempts at cabochons. I created them when I was 12. Group photo:  Background. My 7th grade science teacher was so invested in enriching the students appreciation of earth science, that he actually brought his own cabbing machines, his own rough material slabs in to the school room. He had 6 or 8 large free standing, belt driven grinders and polishers. And let the kids create art for free. Can you believe that? Montana Moss Agate:  And he let students choose their own material, and we would draw on the slab with templates ourselves, were we wanted the material to come from. Then after hours, on his own time, he would trim saw the material down. Then we were taught to use dop sticks, glue, and trained to make cabs. I think this went on for weeks. Unknown red stone:  I think this went on for several weeks. We spent the majority of the hour that we had together each day grinding and shaping and polishing cabochons. Rhodochrosite maybe:  I had a memorable time. And I think this class was the reason why I am so interested in understanding, finding and polishing rocks today. I had these in my room at home until I turned 20 or so and figured out that they made necklace settings for these. So, I saved up some money when I could, and one day I went in and bought the materials and set the stones in to the jewelry. Then I gave them to mom for her birthday. Anyway. I just wanted to share. It would be great if I could have this kind of positive impact for geology or rocks in general for future generations like my teacher once did with us. |
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Post by MsAli on Apr 15, 2019 10:22:57 GMT -5
Those are great memories to have and not a bad job for 12 y/o.
You'd find very few teachers that would do that today.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 15, 2019 10:44:12 GMT -5
Those are very nice looking pendants. Cutting those stones at 12 was quite an accomplishment! You did a real nice job on them.
I'm guessing cutting cabs is like riding a bike. You never really forget how to do it. Looking forward to seeing you produce nice cabs in the very near future!
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Apr 15, 2019 10:47:11 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm impressed too. When I was 12 all we did was skip the flat ones and play "Dodge-Rock" with the rest... .
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Post by Pat on Apr 15, 2019 10:57:05 GMT -5
Good job! Look like cabs and jewelry to me! Any mom would be proud to say her son made this!!  |
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Post by Rockindad on Apr 15, 2019 11:07:44 GMT -5
What a great experience for you, it obviously left a lasting impression. Kudos to your teacher for doing that. I'm not sure of your age (or that of your teacher) but if he were still alive I'm sure hearing that he had a lasting impact on a student would mean a lot.
Unfortunately I cannot see too many schools allowing this now due to liability issues, especially having someone bring in their own equipment.
Al
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Post by Rockindad on Apr 15, 2019 11:09:52 GMT -5
Oh I forgot- great work, 12 years old!?!?
Al
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Post by miket on Apr 15, 2019 11:37:10 GMT -5
Very cool.
Yeah, at twelve years old I was riding around dirt hills on my bike trying not to get into trouble!
I wonder if that teacher knew what kind of impression he made on you (and others) throughout his career? I have a few teachers that were like that for me, the others just faded from my memory.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 15, 2019 12:25:51 GMT -5
What a great and inspiring story. You got to get your feet wet in the lapidary/earth sciences and you did a fine job making cabs and pendants. I always wanted to teach and be that kind of teacher.
I don't know how old you are, but is there any way you can get in touch with the teacher? Maybe he is still living. It would be so awesome to hear from you. When my granddaughter was accepted into William and Mary college, I encouraged her to get up with her old librarian in GA who mentored her. She was tickled to death to hear from my granddaughter and know what an impact that she had on her.
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,315
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Post by mossyrockhound on Apr 15, 2019 13:59:40 GMT -5
Kudos to you and your teacher! Neat story and great job on those cabs. Great to see you stuck with it. I bought my first rock saw when I was 14. It is a 24-inch Highland Park - still using it after quite a few decades.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 15, 2019 16:20:35 GMT -5
What a great experience for you, it obviously left a lasting impression. Kudos to your teacher for doing that. I'm not sure of your age (or that of your teacher) but if he were still alive I'm sure hearing that he had a lasting impact on a student would mean a lot. Unfortunately I cannot see too many schools allowing this now due to liability issues, especially having someone bring in their own equipment. Al This is what I was just thinking as well, Al. The schools these days would probably not allow the kids to grind their fingers off without some real solid legal mechanism in place. I am only 55 years young. And I appreciate the nice words. |
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 15, 2019 16:31:38 GMT -5
Thanks all, for the nice words and compliments.
It was 7th grade. And the teach must have had some latitude for doing things his way. We learned about earth science and geology a great deal that year. I still remember a lot. What a great person he was to take such a personal interest in the education of others by offering a hands-on lab like this. I remember him telling me once that these were his machines and supplies. Just amazing.
How the earth was created is very interesting to me. I swear that if I ever go back to school for studies again, I am going to try to find a geology course line.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 15, 2019 16:34:53 GMT -5
What a great and inspiring story. You got to get your feet wet in the lapidary/earth sciences and you did a fine job making cabs and pendants. I always wanted to teach and be that kind of teacher. I don't know how old you are, but is there any way you can get in touch with the teacher? Maybe he is still living. It would be so awesome to hear from you. When my granddaughter was accepted into William and Mary college, I encouraged her to get up with her old librarian in GA who mentored her. She was tickled to death to hear from my granddaughter and know what an impact that she had on her. You know, I know the school is still there. My niece went there only a year or two ago come to think of it. I might try to find out if he's still teaching. It's been 43 years ago or so, but you never know. I didn't think about that. Thank you for mentioning it as a possibility! I'm going to contact me sister and see if she know anything (such as school name change or anything), then see if I can dig up a directory. |
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 15, 2019 16:49:04 GMT -5
No such luck. The school is not there any longer. It got split in 1/2, one part becoming an elementary school, and the other part turned in to a community college.  |
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Post by miket on Apr 15, 2019 16:50:53 GMT -5
No such luck. The school is not there any longer. It got split in 1/2, one part becoming an elementary school, and the other part turned in to a community college. That's too bad! Maybe you can find him by searching online... You never know. |
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 15, 2019 16:54:29 GMT -5
Kudos to you and your teacher! Neat story and great job on those cabs. Great to see you stuck with it. I bought my first rock saw when I was 14. It is a 24-inch Highland Park - still using it after quite a few decades. It sounds like you were a little more "aware" of your future and what you wanted to do, than I was. You chose well. I, much like MikeT, was still in the fields behind the house, creating motocross bicycle trails. In my spare time, I remember spending a lot of time trying to trick cute girls in to kissing me. |
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Post by vegasjames on Apr 15, 2019 18:18:42 GMT -5
Beautiful work.
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Post by lpl on Apr 16, 2019 11:15:53 GMT -5
Great work and an even greater teacher.
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