Shop Teacher Dreams Big

[Key Guy]

From the East Oregonian

http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?S...amp;TM=49659.16

Harris Junior Academy gets industrial arts thanks to volunteers

'It all started when someone asked Alton Olson to teach a small engines class to the Pathfinders club at Harris Junior Academy.

Olson, a retired shop teacher, wondered aloud where he would teach the course since the school has no industrial arts department.

"They said the last guy just threw out a tarp in the commons area," he said, with a laugh.

Not acceptable.

Olson, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church which sponsors the school, started to dream - a vision of a wood and metal shop sparked to life like a lawn mower after a yank on the starter rope.

"I rallied the troops," said Olson, who taught shop classes for 29 years at Echo High School and 11 years in Woodburn.

Soon, the school and church boards gave their official thumbs up to tackling plans and permits. Now, a year later, a 32x60 shop building is taking shape behind the main school at 3121 S.W. Hailey Ave. The bulk of the L-shaped structure, a 2,000-square-foot block, will house metal and woodworking equipment....'

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I wonder if Walla Walla College students could've helped in building the shop. Pendleton isn't all that far from Walla Walla.

(excuse me....Walla Walla UNIVERSITY... **ahem**...)