Sawdust News April 2025
A Message from Mike
As you know by now, I was not a model student in elementary school. I could not sit still and was berated by teachers and administrators. My parents were more understanding but could not figure out why "I didn't just apply myself". In the April 13 issue of the NYTimes Paul Tough writes about researchers rethinking the efficacy of stimulants as a 'solution' to ADHD for some, but not all youth.
I wish my school had known this back then.
A Caveat. You, as educators, may have strong and well informed insights into the pros and cons of this among many strategies so I will only focus on one insight.
The insight is that when researchers interviewed adults who had been on stimulants, they found that many had "sensibly chosen contexts that were a better match for their personalities than what they experienced in school."
For years, I have seen how woodworking is a wonderful context shift achievable in a regular school setting. We paraphrase Jule Andrews saying 'a spoonful of woodworking makes the math go down' and Joe Youcha points out that over the entire 3000+ year history of education, only the last 'instant' has been in a classroom.
Personally, this article explained a great deal of the baggage I 'acquired' as a result of trying to fit into a 'regular' classrooom setting. And this was decades before Ritalin.
So, if we can engage youth in healthy, productive ways that boost self esteem along with test scores, we have a triple win.
This topic is so multi-faceted. Please reply with your comments or thoughts and let's keep the discussion going.
Kind regards,
Mike
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/magazine/adhd-medication-treatment-research.html
Did you know? Tip/Trick
Can we talk about brace drills? Such a wonderful tool. It combines three simple machines; a lever, an axle, and a wedge (in the form of the drill bit). You can use it to drill holes larger than 1/8" and even create 'Swiss Cheese' as a fun project.
PLEASE NOTE: if you do not use a bit adaptor like the one shown, it is much harder to insert, use and remove bits. Please reach out to help@maplewoodshop.com and we can help you get one.
Tariff Update
Maplewoodshop manufactures 100% of our workbenches and tool chests right here in New Jersey. The wood we prepare for you and the tools we send are a mix of domestic and imported products.
We will do our best to limit the impact potential tariffs have and if you want to lock in today's prices, please reply and we can send you a contract to guarantee current pricing.
Programs Updates
Skills USA NJ hosted its first middle school woodworking contest on March 29 with two teams from Hamilton TWP's Davies Middle School competing. The teams were both cool under pressure while creating a new project they had never seen using new tools and only a diagram to guide them.
The winners will be announced at the state awards ceremony on April 28 in Trenton and Maplewoodshop applauds these young woodworkers for their bravery, collaboration and overall great sportsmanship.
Welcome to the Family
Bronx Community Charter Middle School (NYC)
The New School for Leadership and
Journalism (NYC)
PS177 (NYC)
Ramah Day Camp (IL)
John F Kennedy JHS (CA)
Woodrow Wilson JHS (CA)
Upcoming Events
will offer a unique opportunity for both schools and students in New Jersey to learn about and experience modern manufacturing first-hand!
April 23/2025
9a to 1p
Morristown NJ
Maker Madness
Annual Steam Fair - 10th Anniversary (Columbia High School)
April 26/2025
Career Fair & Awards Ceremony
April 28/2025
CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton (NJ)