Fishing for students is educators’ approach for hooking prospective pupils on the values of a Buckeye Career Center education

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • October 1, 2012
  • 342
                        
Summary: Several Buckeye Career Center teachers drew plenty of attention recently as they went ‘fishing’ for students at the Tuscarawas County Fair in order to spread the word about the many programs the Career Center has to offer. Passersby cast puzzled looks at the two men in dress shirts and ties who were casting fishing lines into a tiny, temporary man-made pond on display at the Tuscarawas County Fair. The pair were calling out cautionary warnings about unseen tricky eddies and currents, and providing advice about lures and bait choices to each other while having a noticeably good time on a fall Friday evening in mid-September. Scott Minor and Doug Young weren’t catching much in the minute six inch deep body of water, but the Buckeye Career Center teachers felt they were being successful in ‘fishing’ for students. “I don’t do anything in life where I can’t have fun,” Young commented, as he cast an unlikely, giant sized rubber lure in the shape of a squid into the water. “Face it, we are drawing lots of attention,” said Minor, who is the In-School Suspension teacher at the school, as he fished in front of the Career Center’s fair display just outside of the Four-Way Barn at the Fairgrounds. “Last year, we were out here with a little fake fire, and we had balls of paper stuck on the end of sticks, like we were toasting marshmallows over the fire. We got a lot of attention then, too. It’s a Friday night, and you’ve got to have fun on a Friday night. We’re trying to attract future Buckeye students over here to talk to us and find out more about what we have to offer at the Career Center.” “This is a great way to bring positive exposure to Buckeye,” commented Young, a Social Studies teacher, who noted that he loves his job. “We have both prospective and former students stop by and talk with us. We have good kids down at Buckeye, and we want teens coming by here at the fair to see us out here and get interested in the 30 plus programs we offer.” Friday nights at the fair seems to be a prime time for the pair to make connections with students, according to Young. “We see a lot of alumni on Friday nights. In fact, in the last ten minutes, I’ve seen at least four of our former students. They tell other kids about their positive experiences; they’re our best advertising.” For the first time, Buckeye Career Center had students from their popular Culinary Arts/Chef Training, Floriculture, Custodial Services and Hospitality Services programs on hand to help make food service at the fair’s 4-H Clover Café run more smoothly. “We are really, really proud of having the young people who are studying in these areas coming in to the fair and helping,” Minor said. “I am really pleased, as this gives them the opportunity to provide valuable community service and see what it’s like in the real world of work.” High school students are not the only ones who can benefit from the classes offered through Buckeye Career Center. In some instances, students up into the low 20’s age bracket can return to the classroom through attending Buckeye and learn valuable life and vocational skills. The school also offers a variety of adult learning programs so that anyone with a desire to do so can be a lifelong learner, whether through full-time career path training programs or in interest areas from cake decorating to Spanish, photography, sign language, and much more. Apprenticeships and online courses are also available. “There are just so many programs at the Career Center that can open up a world of possibilities for young people,” Young said. “If we can get one new kid interested, and help them out, then we’re all for it.” Buckeye Career Center can be reached on the Web at www.buckeyecareercenter.org or by calling 330-339-2228 for more information.


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