DJ> Heh, in our system we have a new tech-ed program that has 
 DJ> replaced "shop". Projects are simulated on computers. There is 
 DJ> not a saw or lathe to be found in the lab. :(
Some of the middle schools in my son's district have what they call tech 
labs--the specifications were written by a woman from back east, she taught 
in one of the schools for a year and got a job with the state department.  
They do have a cnc machine for making parts out of plastics, a sign molder, 
etc..  Unfortunately, the lab is set up learning center style which means 
kids spend quite a bit of time unsupervised--the teacher also did not know 
that one of the Macs was set up for video work and CBT--There were many 
aspects of the lab that were underutilized--and she was the developer of the 
specifications!  Come to find out, she had little background in computers or 
technology.
 
Kids need real tools to work with when at all possible--I presume what you 
describe was done to avoid lawsuit. 
--- Maximus 2.02
---------------