I had heard Woody Allen’s quote as a kid – who hadn’t?

I was fond of spouting it. I’m not sure if I ever truly believed it – not the first half at any rate …the second half on the other hand? Well, let’s just say I was never fond about running in gym shorts trying to hit a ball – or not get hit by a ball.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize just how hard teaching can be. I’ve never tried to train a pack of semi-feral, sixth graders to do anything but I have tried to impart my knowledge,and skill, to those not familiar with doing the things that I am familiar with. One of the first things I learned was – it doesn’t matter how well you know your stuff. It’s true, you can be a master with a lifetime of work and knowledge behind you, but if you don’t know how to impart that knowledge to others, you will never be a good teacher.

Being a good teacher is about knowing how to get others to understand at least the key elements that you do, to perform the task. I’ve been told I have this skill. I’m honestly not sure, but every time I have tried to teach I, A) feel like a bumbling fool, who has no communication skills, & B) Get positive feed back from the people in the ‘class’. As long as my ‘students’ are happy – I guess I’m doing something right.

Maybe it’s in the genes. My mother was a teacher – and still continues to teach in some ways. She just finished teaching a young man who couldn’t read, to do so. I know that at least the students I knew, were quite pleased with her. So maybe I caught the talent from her.

She loves to teach – me on the other hand? Well, that part of the gene must have been clipped off as the ‘male pattern baldness leapt onto the gene chain.

With-in the SCA teaching is a large part of what we do; be it how to fight safely, how to develop a persona, or how to set a bezel – teaching, learning, and researching is an integral part of the society. Not that every minute, of every event, is a bunch of studious bowed heads digesting the latest finds on ink used in the monasteries of upper Germany in 1167.Not at all!

But there are classes being offered at many events, for those who wish to attend. One such event, is a weekend camping event lovingly called Fool. The official name is Fruits of our Labour – and it is a weekend that is heavy in the A&S. Classes are on going everywhere, in all possible fields of study. We were only able to go for a day last year – but what a day!

This year we are going to be there for the whole of the weekend…. and somehow – I’m teaching a class.

I am making the seahorse shaped, toothpick pomander for my lady – and part of that is setting a cabochon in a bezel on the front of the pendant. I posted a picture of the bezel I am making.

Shortly there after, my ‘Boss’ -the Kingdom level Minister of Arts & Sciences- asked if I would teach a class in this at Fool.  I said I would because…well, I know nailing down classes can be tough, and I know the wider the verity of them the better, and there is that whole – I’m an A&S officer, so encouraging, and spreading knowledge is kinda in the job description. I also said yes because she admitted she wanted me to teach the class, because she wants to learn how to set the cameos she’s hand carving from shell….but you know – no pressure!

Now the event is at the end of May – still a good long way away. I see this as a very good thing. A very good thing indeed, because of this one small detail…. I haven’t set a bezel yet in my life.

Not this sort, in this way. I have done a more difficult way, using some of the same techniques, but actually soldering the outer wall to a base, then putting in the stone and then…..

Well, I’m just going to say I’ve rearranged my plans slightly to include making a few bezel set cabochons between now and May. This might mean, that when I feel like a bumbling fool, who has no communication skills – its just a feeling and not the actual truth….

Maybe