An enhancing counterpoint to the digital world that fosters a lasting love and appreciation for working with wood.
The curriculum begins in Class II and is designed to broaden a boy’s knowledge and expertise in using his hands in a creative manner, equipping him with practical skills that will serve him for a lifetime. Students develop command of basic hand tools—different types of saws, rasps, and files—on projects including submarines, swords, and boats. Classes are small to facilitate individual attention.
The Plaques
It is Buckley's oldest tradition: every boy carves an eight-inch square plaque before he graduates. Almost three thousand student plaques hang on the walls of the School, dating back to 1917, the first year a boy graduated from Buckley. Each plaque must have the student's name and the years he attended the School, but the rest of the design is up to him. Boys carve everything from symbols and logos to sailboats and animals, choosing subjects that are original and personal to their identity.
The plaque is not just the culmination of the crafts program; it represents a graduate's legacy, and alumni are often seen scanning the walls when they return, eagerly searching for their plaque.
