--- In [email protected], "Robert Citek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On 10/26/07, Robert S. DeLorey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This brings up a question that has been rattling asround in my mind > > for a few months. > > Can we develop a program for high school age youth that would > > a) Provide us with some volunteer help from the students. > > b) Provide the students with marketable skills. > > There are lots of variations to this like possibly paying the > > students a nominal wage and/or helping them find employment possibly > > even being able to offeer certification in some skill areas? > > Yes, we can. And I think we should. I've got some ideas on how, but > I'm curios to hear others. > > Regards, > - Robert > I'd like to hear from others too. Basically, I've been looking for a way to extend our length of contact with the kids starting with the EAC courses that we offer now and working with them in a series of programs. We tried getting older kids involved in the shop before. If I remember correctly, they were kids who had been through EAC and wanted to build on to their machines. Sound cards, speakers, DVD players etc. We had them come in and work in the shop on Saturdays to earn credits for parts. Then we helped them install them etc. It had promise but there was too much going on on Saturdays and this program just added to the chaos. It would have to be scheduled at another time. Nate has proposed SIG type classes similar to the ones offered by the Older Resident Clubs that I work with. That has promise too but I think that for the kids we would have to include incentives of some kind - what do they earn and how do they earn it etc Then we need to figure out how this program would mesh with subsequent programs. Then ultimately, after the kids have demonstrated a certain level of skill and interest, we could offer what amounts to certification training in certain areas (including becoming accredited as a training center) I know this is extremely ambitious. However, if we regard the EAC program as the first step and lay out a series of steps to be implemented over several years, I think we could gather the required resources (money, manpower, facilities, curriculum) as we progress. Taking it a step at a time would allow us to modify our plans as we go along. However haveing the "dream" laid out would allow us to garner the support we would need to make it come true.
Steve
