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What qualifies me to teach woodworking
by Tony Grove

When a person reaches that time in their life when they possess a rich storehouse of experience and skills in a particular sphere, I believe they are almost duty-bound to pass on that knowledge for the benefit of future generations. This truth was recently driven home to me when my dear friend and boatbuilder go-to guy passed away from cancer, taking with him all that knowledge and leaving a gaping hole in life with his family and friends.

I first considered the idea of teaching in 1997. I had been working in the woodworking and boatbuilding field for almost 20 years when I was asked to guest lecture a class “History of Furniture and Design”. It was then I realized I loved sharing my knowledge and felt I had a lot to offer, so at that point decided to focus more on lecturing, and eventually, to teaching. I didn’t have to wait long for an opportunity. In 1999 I was hired as a second instructor for the then-new Silva Bay Shipyard School on Gabriola Island, where I taught Boatbuilding for six months over that winter.

For my first real teaching experience, I realized fast I was very green. I had to assimilate and decipher all the little things I had just instinctively done in the woodworking shop, putting them into teachable words. While teaching all that I knew, I also had to quickly teach myself what I didn’t know so I could keep up with the advanced students. I also learned that being an instructor is not just about teaching: it is also understanding the rich complexities of people, personalities and group dynamics that we all must contend with every day.

Recognizing the school facilities would empty for the summer, I approached the management about running a summertime program specifically on building Ships Cabinetry, which was given the green light. My work was then really cut out for me; I had two months to write a new curriculum from scratch because at that time, no other school in the world was teaching a course on building boat interiors, and there were nearly no good books on the subject. So my approach became to teach all the things I wish I had been taught in my first year of my apprenticeship that I eventually had to teach myself, as well as all I knew about boat interiors from what I had learned from building them, plus incorporate my fine furniture building knowledge. While that first class was a ton of work, it was rewarding and ultimately a success as all the students – and in turn the management - were very happy at the end. I eventually became the Silva Bay Shipyard School’s head instructor, teaching the Boatbuilding and Ships Cabinetry classes, as well as Introduction to Woodworking and various weekend courses.

By 2005 I needed a break and found the school a replacement and took a sabbatical. After deciding not to return based on personal life changes, I went back to working quietly in my shop building and restoring wooden boats and building furniture. I kept my hand in teaching by continuing to lecture, write articles and teach part-time for various schools around North America. I continue to participate annually in wooden boat festivals were I am a judge for the Victoria Classic Boat Festival and continue lecturing on boat interiors at the Port Townsend Wooden boat festival, where I have done so going on 11 years now.

From nearly six years of teaching full-time and by staying involved with the world of teaching, I have not only met some great people, but have learned exponentially more about my trade and craft relative to when I first started woodworking. I have reached a point in my life where I feel confident in all that I know and teach, and am passionate about sharing that information.  I still love to learn and I`ll be the first to admit I don’t know everything, but I do know where to go and get the right answers. From the wealth of information that I`ve absorbed from experience, others and mentors in the field, I am at the point where I want to impart that critical knowledge that will enable any student to excel in the field of woodworking.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

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