For 10 weeks this past spring I was hired to teach a "Basic Home Wiring" class at an automotive factory(one of the big 3). The objective of this class was to impart some basic understanding of the electrical system on the homeowner so as to enable him/her to safely change a switch or receptacle or add a CATV or telephone jack.
I took the opportunity to educate the students about electrical safety and the possibility of biblical proportion catastrophe when dealing with electricity. I covered the basics in this class with the approach that it is good to know what to look for in good, safe installation practices of those tradesmen/women that they might hire to do work on their homes. When the class was completed the students had to evaluate me as to my effectiveness as an educator and the class as to how useful and informative it had been. I'm proud to say I received good reports on my educating technique but the comment I saw most often on the evaluations and the one that pleased me the most was where the question was asked:"What was the most valuable element you received from taking this class?". The most common response can be summed up in one student's reply: "Electrical wiring is best left to qualified professionals. The class has given me a new sense of respect for the electricity I take for granted in my home every day. While it is a convenience I wouldn't want to do without, I now know what a hazzard it can be if it operates in a damaged or poorly installed wiring system." 11 out of 23 students answered in a similar manner. I don't go around trying to frighten people about electricity but I do stress the dangers associated with electrical work and that getting shocked is minor compared to burning down a house and killing an entire family all because you were trying to save a few dollars.
