If I remember right, you said that you start your new job tomorrow. I just wanted to say "good luck". I was out of teaching for 16 years before I went back and was nervous as heck. I was nervous because everyone was telling me how bad the kids are today. HOGWASH I teach two 2hr blocks of voc. auto tech and 1 hr of small engines everyday and the kids are great.You have to let them know what you expect and stick to your rules and everything goes smooth. Stay consistant. You have a trade that most kids including myself dream about. The first time you solve a problem that you only learn from "hands on experience" and not from reading a book, they will be eating out of your hands. My wife works nights so I usually open the shop on Fri evenings and Sat. and get about 10 to 15 kids that come in and work on their projects.( that is when I work on mine ).The school has letters on file where the parents have commented on how happy they are that their kids are at the school working on a Fri night instead of out at a party. It makes me feel good also. With so many kids coming from broken homes today, you would never imagine what an influence you will have on someones life. I'm 54 years old and have only been back teaching for 4 years and I love my job. I enjoy getting up to go to work in the morning. I even enjoy staying after if a kid needs the time to get his car back together. With all the advances in the auto field I find myself reading and studying every night just to keep my head above water but I still love it. Good luck and let me know how you do. Remember to cover your butt by spending considerable time on safety and keep the safety exams on file just in case. Don

Hi Don, I start school officialy tomorrow. Orentation type stuff. The students start Monday. I've been going in all week getting ready. I'm not worried about the "decline of our youth". I hear a lot of that, but I don't buy it. Every genaration says the same about the next. There will be good and bad, and in-between. I'm more excited about this than any thing I've ever done. It's scarry because it's new for me, and I take the responsibility seriously. I've got great support from the rest of the department, and complete freedom to set up the program. Along with the freedom, again comes the responsibility of making it a good program, and giving the students there money's worth. Lots of homework for me! I think it will be the best experiance of my career, but if any one thinks it's easy, they haven't done it! I'll keep you posted. Eric