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High school students get a taste of the trades

The students in Ron Bascombe’s classes don’t mind getting their hands dirty. The West Ferris Secondary School teacher heads the Specialist High Skills Major program (SHSM) in manufacturing/mining, which was approved in September, 2012.
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West Ferris Secondary School teacher Ron Bascombe, left, discusses a project with student Lucas Arthurs.

The students in Ron Bascombe’s classes don’t mind getting their hands dirty. The West Ferris Secondary School teacher heads the Specialist High Skills Major program (SHSM) in manufacturing/mining, which was approved in September, 2012.

“My job is to get as many kids out there in the skilled trades as possible and get them on to good careers,” he said.

With a background in fluid power and pneumatics, Bascombe offers “a little bit of everything” to the students who take part in his classes.

“In Grades 9 and 10, they get to do a little welding, machining and they do a little plumbing. They get a little taste of everything. In Grade 11, they focus a little more, and spend twice as much time with me,” Bascombe said.

In Grades 11 and 12, when they choose the SHSM program, students will get two credits. In their last semester of high school, they get a two-credit co-op placement with one of the partner companies.

“Math, English and science in the senior years all have a manufacturing/mining twist to them,” he said.

In order to develop the program, Bascombe said he knocked on some doors of local manufacturing plants and shops to get them on board as co-op partners.

“No one said no,” he said. “We have about 14 companies right now and as soon as I told them what this involved, they were all on board.

“The average age of a licensed tradesperson is 53. It is going to get bad and these companies recognize it and they welcomed me with open arms.”

Bascombe tells his students that by the time they are in Grade 11, they should know if they are going to have an academic career or work with their hands. The program serves those who want to go into engineering at university, become an apprentice, go to college to learn a trade, or directly enter the workplace.

It’s important to pique the interest of the students early, so in Grade 9, Bascombe introduces a spinning top game. Eight years ago, he found a satellite dish in the dump and the spinning pieces are made from machined hexagon pieces of steel.

Once the pieces are completed, the class has round robin tournaments.

The students also get certification in CPR, first aid, WHMIS, electrical safety and fire safety, all for free. They also get field trips to various industries.

The co-op placement they do in the last semester often leads to summer employment or a direct job.

“If students want to be an electrician, for instance, and they have been with the program and show they have employability skills, there is a good chance I can get them a co-op. Companies have said they like my kids because they are already filtered. I have taken the baggage out. They know how to act in a workplace and they are never late for work. The students are ready for this,” he said.

www.nearnorthschools.ca

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