As a teacher of twenty years time I must advise you that if you, as an instructor, are not allowed the use of a lighter or matches to demonstrate a needed technique, it is definately time to find a new position.
How do the Chemistry teachers in your district light their bunsen burners????
I offered to leave one post when advised that my pen knife, which I had legally carried to school as a boy, violated the no tolerance code. Now that I was a teacher I was no longer trustworthy? Firearms other than BP for demonstrations, I can understand, weapon sized knives, I can see their fear, but flint and steel in the hands of a teacher is absurd!! Perhaps it is time to give a demonstration of the 50 ways one can light a cigarette without matches during a faculty meeting. I learned most of them from my students, they seem less hampered by the rules than us teachers!
Mark Baker's series of Frontiersmens tapes have excellent material, not just on firestarting but all aspects of frontier woodcraft. I have used his tapes in my classrooms for years. He is a fellow teacher and although monotone, has no language that will need editing. John Curry has a series that is equally good. Get too me by private message for the distributers.
You could always snag a vidio camera and do what you need yourself!! Your school probably owns a camera for just these purposes. I found that when I featured myself on the vidios I used for demonstrations I got a very positive reaction. It was the only time some of the students actually paid attention to anything I said. Stuff on the TV is worth listening too!!! I had them all convinced I lived at Mansker's station and wore 18th century clothes when I was not at shcool.
