How to Wield a(n x-acto) Knife

Having had two students cut themselves with x-acto knives this week—minor cuts, thank Bowie!—this article by Tom Mylan, a butcher, on how to wield a knife seemed timely. The following bit, which applies to x-acto knives, is first on his list of how to avoid serious injuries:

The most important thing when it comes to cutting yourself (or avoiding it) is awareness of where you and the cutting edge of your blade are in relation to each other. This is not such a big deal for a home cook slicing vegetables, but for a butcher it becomes a matter of life and death.

Tom Mylan, “How to Wield a Knife”
The Atlantic, February 10, 02010