Back In School starting this week

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
I'm back to 3 days a week this week until May.

:thumbup:


I love teaching, guys....it is a passion that burns as deep as knifemaking right now.

I would definitely make living being a full-time professor...or even maybe a fulltime knifemaker.

But I would live only partially satisfied.

So, on I go...teaching part time (2 days a week) and working in the shop every moment outside of that I can. I usually still manage to sneak in 40+ hrs in the shop....and progress will NOT be affected greatly on my projects/orders - since I'll be doing more emailing/filing on Tuesdays & Thursdays...freeing up more dedicated shop time on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

All I ask is some understanding from you guys as to my flip-flop schedule.

It may take an extra day or two to answer emails, reply to posts and PMs, etc.

Thanks for being great customers :thumbup: ...and to you and those yet to 'take the plunge'....2009 is shaping up to be a GREAT YEAR for Koster Knives!

Thanks!

Dan
 
I wish I lived there, that would be an awesome course to take, not that I have the money for it but I would really like to. I have a master's in education that will now, most likely, be for naught. I taught for five years in the district in Texas (and perhaps in the nation) with the most single family homes, this is not an indication of anything but economic status of the, uh, clientele.

Teachers need much better compensation for what the job action entails, at least in public schools, and what their educational requirements are.

Good for doing it Dan. Someday I may look into teaching in college. I do not feel I have the 'experience' to qualify at this time nor the Doctorate I would likely need and do not feel like getting.
 
Daniel Koster said:
All I ask is some understanding from you guys as to my flip-flop schedule.

It may take an extra day or two to answer emails, reply to posts and PMs, etc.

Thanks for being great customers :thumbup: ...and to you and those yet to 'take the plunge'....2009 is shaping up to be a GREAT YEAR for Koster Knives!

Thanks!

Dan
Click to expand...

Will keep this in mind Dan, thanks for putting that out there for us newbies. :thumbup:
 
iamtoast said:
I wish I lived there, that would be an awesome course to take, not that I have the money for it but I would really like to. I have a master's in education that will now, most likely, be for naught. I taught for five years in the district in Texas (and perhaps in the nation) with the most single family homes, this is not an indication of anything but economic status of the, uh, clientele.

Teachers need much better compensation for what the job action entails, at least in public schools, and what their educational requirements are.

Good for doing it Dan. Someday I may look into teaching in college. I do not feel I have the 'experience' to qualify at this time nor the Doctorate I would likely need and do not feel like getting.
Click to expand...

Teachers definitely need better compensation but if it is compensation you are after, better stay in the public schools. They usually pay $6,000 to $8,000 per year more than what university professors get paid. Having put in about 30 yrs. teaching in Texas universities and others, those are the, relative unknown, facts.:(
 
There tends to be a lot of pressure to get grants etc., kind of a raw deal.

I was a Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Systems and AP Environmental Science teacher.
 
Right now I am teaching Graphic Design courses.


And I am an adjunct professor....(part time)...meaning :D that I don't have to mess with all that tenure stuff....staff meetings...butt-kissing....hand-holding....pants kicking stuff. :foot:

I just give 'em my syllabus....show up to teach the class...and I'm gone. These courses are at a Community College...so there's not as much "pressure" there as compared to a University.

And, luckily, I live just a mile away. ;)

Here's the website:


www . nwacc . edu



I started teaching back in 2002...and am getting better and better each semester. I can't believe I get paid to do it, honestly....*shrug*



The pay is not great...but I have made my teaching and grading very "efficient"...:D......meaning I probably make more "per hour of effort" than a full time teacher. ;)


I started college in 1989...and graduated in 2000....was a "professional student"...:D

Just feels like home to me...hard to leave.




Anyway, I'm still kickin' tail in the shop, guys....knockin' stuff out better and faster each day!

:thumbup:


Dan
 
I am a full time professor Dan. This semester I am only working 3 days a semester (because I have a few on line classes). I honestly think if you worked full time for a college - you could find a lot of time to make knives. You would have to throttle back a little - but you would find the time to get in the shop.

The only problem teaching in the arts like you do is that there is a LOT of contact hours and there is more drama in the arts. Who knows....

TF
 
Yes - that part kills me...:(

I have 5.5 contact hrs per class...get paid for 4.67

When I was teaching different classes a few years ago...I had 2.25 contact hrs and was getting paid for 3. Those were the days!

But these classes now are much more satisfying.



I may go full-time someday...with more and more online courses...definitely a greater possibility. And, indeed, when the college had an opening, I did apply...and made it all the way to the "final round"....between me and one other person. I didn't get it obviously, but I wasn't crushed. :D

Dan
 
...that I don't have to mess with all that tenure stuff....staff meetings...butt-kissing....hand-holding....pants kicking stuff.
Click to expand...

Tis the truth! I miss the adjunct days!
Even so, I am envious of your organization / ability to push out fine knives as quickly as you do!
 
Dan,

I wonder if it was your 'interpretive dance' that you preformed trying to allow them to understand your C.V. a little better?

You may want to rethink that tactic? ;)

TF
 
Many of my students did interpretive dance. It was most evident when the walked (normally for them) down the hallway.
 
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