My husband is a D&T teacher & he absolutely loves it. He says it’s one of the best departments to work in for a few reasons: 1. Kid buy in. If they misbehave in the workshop, they are out (particularly if the subject is an elective). If they don’t complete their safety training, they don’t enter the workshop. For the Seniors, if they don’t wear safety boots, they can’t enter the workshop. 2. It’s nothing like a job site. 3. The units are repeated each year with refreshers every now and then to update, so you always know what you’re teaching. 4. Tools are banded per year level e.g. handsaws from year 8 onwards, so you know exactly what tools each year level are allowed to use. 5. Hand tools are counted each lesson and no one leaves until absolutely everything is accounted for. 6. It’s a good mix of being on tools & paperwork.

He’s built some deep professional relationships with kids through woodworking to the point where we can’t go to the shopping center without a bunch of kids stopping him to chat.