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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1991-12-04, Page 13i Times -Advocate, December 4, 1991 Page 13 Start program preparing today's students forfuture By Ray Lewis EXETER - In nearly 11"everything you do the t affects of new technol- ogy can be felt. Knowledge in the world now doubles every two years; an al- most alarming rate. But are we really pre- pared for it. Statistics compiled on Canadian schools say although the need for higher learning is becoming more and more impor- tant for simple survival in.this ad- • vanced age, many students are fall- ing far behind. For most, it's shocking to learn over one third of high school stu- dents won't graduate. Contrary to popular belief, only half of the stu- dents entering the advanced level ;program actually go on to universi- ly, and 12 percent drop out before completing a secondary education. t In response to this, the federal government has launched a stay in school initiative, to better prepare students for the increasingly tough job market. The program actually serves as more of an eruichment program, which revolves around staying in school. "It's really scary because you're talking about 30 percent of the pop- ulation that isn't going to be em- ployable," said Val Millson Jansen, program co-ordinator for Start. Start is based on the premise that students don't drop out of school because they don't want to learn, but because they are failing to learn. Every one wants to learn if the outcome serves a purpose and the process is more positive than negative. Most kids enjoy school at the very least for social aspects and Jansen finds many who have gradu- ated always comment on that as- pect. "They remember a teacher who took some extra time with them or their involvement in sports," said Jansen. "A lot of students just aren't attached to school because there are too many missing pieces.'' Often times, students who work more than 15 hours per week leave school because of the enticement of money. "Unfortunately; confirms Jan- sen, "It's usually not a lot of money and they don't realize that. If they stayed in school, they would end up making more." The program began last May and will run until next March as part of the governments three-year initia- tive. The proposal is a county -wide preventative program which will have a number of dimensions to deal with the diverse needs of the many different kinds of students. The program operates from a mo- bile trailer which travels to each of the five secondary schools for a pe- riod of two months. It will remain in Exeter until Christmas, before travelling to its next destination, Goderich. About 20 students have been en- rolled per area, with teachers, stu- dents, board members and parents all having input into the programs structure. The Exeter project consists of two groups which meet one day -a week. One is comprised of 10 grade nine students while the other is made up of 11 grade seven and eight students from the feeder schools of South Huron. Each member is actively involved in the program planning, and focus on one social skill a week. Students learn to write restunes, participate in a job interview, and take part in actual job shadowing. Participants are given the opportu- nity to pick a career they feel at - Valerie Wilson Jansen is co-ordinating the Start program in Huron County. She is shown here with program mascot D.Q. The seven -week-old cat has proven himself an asset when children deal with their fears. D.Q. stands for Don't Quit. Startling facts released in May of 1991, after a study conducted by the Youth Af- fairs Branch of Employment and Immigration Canada: • about 100,000 young Ca- nadians drop out of school every year, by the year 2000, one million students will have dropped out • in the next decade, 64 per- cent of jobs created will re- quire more than 12 years of education and training, and al- most half of these jobs will re- quire more than 17 years • 60 percent of the Canadi- ans who will form the labour force in the year 2000 have al- ready left school • a dropout earns approxi - Mately $55 per week less than a student who completes high school • Canada ranks tenth among 18 industrialized countries in enrolment rate in formal edu- cation for 17-year-olds • a Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses sur- vey reveals 58 percent of its members are unsatisfied with the way high schools prepare students for the labour market tracted to and follow a person around fora day who is involved in that career. In addition, students take part in a CPR program and persons who have left school are invited as guest speakers to relate their experiences. Along with speakers from Social Services, they help by teaching skills such as budgeting. "Each child has different goals as to what they want to get out of the program." said Jansen. "Some- times half the battle is just their be- ing aware." Following the two month inter- val, the group continues to meet on a monthly basis which prevents the program from becoming merely short cerin. _ According to Jansen, kids need to be made more aware of the kinds of communications and people skills they need to perform, which they can transfer to different kinds of jobs" "There just aren't many people out there who communicate well," confided Jansen. !4 - NOTICE to our Customers instead of -large adver- tisements and Christmas give-aways - we have lowered our prices on all appliances. Over 200 ap- pliances on display. For the last 46 years we have endeavoured to give our customers low prices and good service and will continue to do so in the coming years. Jerry, Jack and Gary Open Daily Fridays till 9 p.m. Drysdale Major Appliances Centre Ltd. 262-2728 Hensel! A Table lamp a Matching Plate C Matching Vats* 0 Matching Candlestick Reg. 8188.09 Reg. $41.99 Reg. 884.88 lamp Re . $99.99 SALE $139.99 SALE $29.99 SALE $59.99 SALE $64.99 SAS 714 CI SIS I; e%•:; G •� .11 4.10 V.et 1p J AL SAVE ON QUALITY GIFT � IDEAS ` E AllestbNe Seta lbws Pbae Lame Reg. $41.99 SALE $29.99 $stla Iran Flom lap. TriegM. SPECIAL $119.99 EXCLUSIVE Satin erase ACSW Lamp. TOO* $PEGAI $64.99 TO LIVING Satre erase TNI* Lap. TriNgM SPECIAL $89.99 LIGHTING! LARGE ASSORTMENT OF LAMP SHADES WE DO LAMP REPAIRS! di itted elf) tAlb SALE PRICED FROM $34.99 Large Selection of Stylish Mirrors Opt -n til (hri.1111 LIVING LIGHTING ,b tem Ha. 11101 inslor . M (W15iyeq LONDON HOME AND DESIGN CENTRE minim $100.0 LOM, 0117A1 o 4011 Poe Rd i W1 Ie Ouantities Last Bulbs extra. Sale ends December 24, 1991 May not be ava4able in all sbrn. NORTH LONDON 1575 RICN11Ose 57111NOM57 L015)011, 01111A0/0fl1SI.57.e 2 Prior to implementing Start in Huron County, Jansen, a native of Seaford), worked for the Children's Aid Society in both London Huron County, and spent a year counsel- ling in the guidance department of a school in Nigeria. She seems grateful for the experience of both, despite the fact she was actually shot at during a coup. "Now that I'm here and I'm safe, I can say it was fantastic," laughs Jansen. Jansen is aided by Huron County Board of Education superintendent Chuck Rowland, while funding for the program comes from Employ- ment and Immigration Canada. Season's Greetings from Something Special soThRtVA cta Let our Elves Help you with Enllghtenlng GIft Ideas! 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