The Professor and the Teacher

James Sebring

I met a professor who showed me how to make a hammer.

I learned the correct curvature of the claw, the radius of the arc and how to precisely measure it to ensure proper torque and leverage.

I was shown how to calculate the angle of the bevel edge to ensure an even, smooth and efficient movement of the claw under the nail head to allow lifting without stripping.

I learned the theory of levers and how to calculate force applied versus output torque and the application of a tangential force to be smoothly applied with a constant acceleration.  I was shown how to calculate these forces and the resultant acceleration rates.

I learned how to analyze and collect accurate data, and I saw that through the proper application of statistical data analysis, the handle grip could be designed to best fit the greatest number of people with a minimum of variation.

I learned the chemical and molecular makeup of many materials that could be used to bond a variety of metals and materials together to make it strong and durable.

I was shown how to calculate the center of mass and rotation about the center gravity in the head and handle to give a balanced and accurate stroke to the head of a nail.  I could calculate the translation of rotational force to a tangential linear force along the length of the nail.

Then one day, as hopefully it will happen to all of us, I met a person who taught me how to use the hammer to build walls and fences, bridges and boats, buildings and homes.  I discovered the exhilarating joy of using this tool to create things that would change lives, society, and the world.

It was amazing to see the things I could actually do with a hammer that required neither calculator nor computer, nor periodical chart, nor vector analysis.  It only required a person to teach me how to use the knowledge that I had been given.

And as I sat at the end of a long and productive day and looked at all the wondrous things I had built, I wondered…. How does one become a teacher?