ST. JOHNSBURY- In a generation with kids glued to their electronic devices, a Saint Johnsbury Academy teacher is trying to break the mold in an attempt to have them glued to something else.
Matthew Stark, a woodworking teacher at the Academy, sees the potential his students have and wishes projects they are involved with can help break a stereotype placed on them.
"I think that I really need these students to be seen other than kids that are just texting, stuck with their nose in a computer," says Stark. "These young people definitely have a bad reputation, but I work with them every single day and I know that they're talented."
Students are designing benches that will be on display for the community to see.
One of the many places benches sit is at the Fairbanks Museum, and director Adam Kane is thrilled with the idea of them being on display.
"I mean I was thrilled even before I saw it," says Kane. "That specific class does really great work because I've seen that in some of the work they've done before and when I saw it in real life, you know--it confirmed what I already knew. You know that it is a beautiful piece of furniture and of course the museum is thrilled to have it."
Matthew Stark explained the decision behind the locations of the benches.
"[The students] pick a location where they're going to donate it, and then design the piece around the location, and then simply donate it as a way they can start building a reputation of producing quality work," Stark explains.
All involved are thankful for the opportunity that this second year program has been able to produce, including Kane
"The two students who designed and built this bench were the ones who delivered it, so I had the opportunity just to admire it with them and they told me about how they designed and built it, so I had the opportunity to thank them in person," he says.
Matthew Stark is excited for this project, and what it stands for.
"I am really excited about it, because I think it's a great project for the kids to get their pieces in public, that people can enjoy, and everybody loves a place to sit down."