I can remember casting aluminum and using soldering irons, which were heated in little bench mounted furnaces in 7th grade "industrial arts". Basically an intro shop class that used wood, metal and plastic. I had wood shop in 8th and 9th grade, and didn't get back to metal until 11th grade. That was mostly sheet metal and gas welding. Didn't get to do casting or machining.
I never saw anyone make a cannon, but throwing stars and throwing knives were popular "the teacher isn't looking projects. Marijuana pipes were the popular thing in ceramics class.
Being a Jr high or high school shop teacher must be terrifying.
My shop teacher that year was terrifying.
Like a really angry version of my uncle. Looked like him right down to the 50s style green glasses and haircut.
Cool guy most of the time, but man he would get ****** sometimes.
Someone was heating a crucible of aluminum and this wing it kid threw a candle into the furnace which caused smoke initially, then a huge conflagration.
I’m talking flames to the ceiling, which was covered in aluminum already from others legitimate boo boos.
This teacher went nuts and started after the kid who ran out and right to the administrative office.
Literally took himself to the principal rather than face “Teach’s wrath, and got himself expelled for arson.
Teach told us to never do this as he was just going to shake the **** out of him and make him do grunt work for a while.
Dumbass got juvie rather than a talking to.
Teach understood team age shenanigans, the principal, not so much.