Maybe I’m in the minority. I don’t like the idea of the apprentice program. The whole approach has been to create a class of timber framers that are “Qualified” to timber frame. Somewhere in the past I had seen a purposed standard that the guild was working on for architects to add to their drawings that required a journeyman or higher certified framer. The guild would also require its instructors to also be journeyman timber framers. In my 16 years I have seen poor timber framers, good timber framers and great timber framers. What makes a great timber framer is not that he knows cad or design or whether he can french scribe or knows a damn thing about forest management. For the bulk of the rank in file jobs out there quality work and being able to read a set of plans and accurately produce the designers work. I personally think the best teacher is a desire to learn. If a person wants to learn compound he will read, google and find someone to teach him. Not all timber framers are cut out for advanced timber framing but do quality work. That shouldn’t keep them from practicing the craft. I think the apprentice program leads to a two tier system splits out group into the haves and have not’s.
