And this is where the Professor murders me.

[xp_cyclops]

Even so, I think I've selected a good term project for the shop class. We are going to make a cannon - specifically, an 1844 howitzer. We will be taking a short field trip (don't anybody faint) to Fort Hamilton within the next few weeks to take a look at that particular gun there. Then we're going to research, design, and build a replica here.

It'll be fun.

Comments

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Yes. In fact, "oh, yes".

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy starting from scratch every morning.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

If you mess with the cannon, I hope you enjoy the Scenario From Hell I'm going to program for you each and every time you walk into the Danger Room.

Besides, from an academic perspective, this is unimpeachable. Both a shop project and a history project.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

You're not building a cannon on campus. I have Maddy's tranq gun and the ability to turn the darts into homing missiles.

And from an academic perspective, teaching the students to build a weapon is actionable. Just ask Nathan.

[x-cable.livejournal.com]

Don't drag me into this. What did I do?

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Went through law school. Tell Scott he's being a moron and we're going to be sued. Or have war declared.

[x-cable.livejournal.com]

Um. Well, to be honest, I think it's kind of a cool idea. I mean, cannons!

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Okay, you're no longer allowed in this conversation. Go back to doing whatever it is you do all day.

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

It's not meant to actually work... right?

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

You didn't think I came up with the idea out of the blue, do you? Plenty of other shop classes on different campuses have built cannons as a project.

You'll note I didn't say anything about it being functioning. Except perhaps for a single test, once it's done. It'll depend on how responsibly the students approach the project.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

No.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

I think you're what's in the vernacular as a spoilsport.

It's a perfectly valid exercise, Lorna. I'm using a lesson plan from Harvard.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Harvard students are legal adults, not teenagers.

No.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Then you suggest something else that's going to a) catch their interest as much and b) involve the historical element while making use of sites and artifacts that we have right to hand in the immediate area.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

You're relying on gimmicks to keep your class's attention now?

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

I'm going to side with Lorna on this. There's a million wonderful examples of engineering to have the students make - why have them use their skills on a weapon? Might be sending the wrong message there, boss.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned how much I like you, Forge? Would you like some cookies?

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

Cookies would be perfection.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

The Cooking class is making cookies today. I'll make sure you get some.

[x-aerial.livejournal.com]

If a field trip involving looking at cannons does not result in any physical or mental harm to anyone taking part in the trip, will more field trips be taken?

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

Contrary to popular belief, not every field trip or excursion this school has taken results in shenanigans. Washington DC went fine, for example.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

See my above comment to Lorna. If you can think of something that satisfies both requirements as effectively, I'm more than willing to entertain the idea. The cannon was just particularly high on the list of suggestions in the resource materials I was looking at, and was particularly simple to implement.

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

Just the thing (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/bridges.html#brooklyn).

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

I looked at bridges. But a) it's an individual or at best a small group exercise to create a scale model, and b) the model is just that.

I'll go back to the drawing board with the list of suggested activities, but as I said, there was a reason I settled on the cannon, and Nate making fun of it or not, it wasn't because it was "cool". I want something full-sized, something interactive that's going to require the full class, with the tie to local history.

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

1913. Glenn Curtiss. The beginnings of the aviation industry.

And look, you already have a plane...