Educational field trips are fairly commonplace for Hamilton Country students.
By Beverly Carroll
April 5, 2004
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Educational field trips are fairly commonplace for Hamilton County students. But for students in East Ridge High School’s construction academy, field trips offer opportunities to learn things beyond what the traditional trip to the library, museum or zoo can offer.
'We get to do things that we don’t normally get to do,' East Ridge junior Felicia Lee said.
The 17-yearold and her classmates operated forklifts, practiced cutting and burning techniques in welding, and learned CPR.
The daylong classes were held by Associated General Contractors of East Tennessee, which also partners with the school’s construction academy, said Briggs Smith, director of technical and career education. The academy is part of high school reforms under way throughout the Hamilton County Schools system, Mr. Smith said.
'What we are doing is integrating the practical aspect of technical and career education with the curriculum,' Mr. Briggs said.
AGC President Ron Tudor said the academy aims to expand the choices available to students after they graduate from high school. From college, to apprenticeships, to technical or community schools, students will have more opportunities, he said.
'Not every student will go into the construction industry,' he said. 'But we’ve already seen grade-point averages increasing, and we hope to improve the graduation rate. We want to produce a well-rounded student ready for work or school.'
The high school reform effort, which is in its second year, is funded by an $8 million grant from the Carnegie Corp. of New York. Other county high schools are developing academies, and some are already under way, such as the health sciences academy at Red Bank High School.
About 70 students are enrolled in the East Ridge academy, which offers majors in masonry, carpentry and electrical work.
Trainers for the East Ridge students’ recent daylong class were provided by the Laborers Union International, Local 843, union representative Brian Hale said.
'It was a win-win for us,' Mr. Hale said. 'We marketed our services as trainers, and we got to help the kids.'
East Ridge senior Ashish Jethva said he is headed to the University of Tennessee in the fall to study architecture. The masonry courses he has taken will help him when he designs buildings, he said.
'I’ll know what goes into building, and I won’t design things that won’t work,' he said.
Classmate Tab Brown said he’s not sure what he wants to do when he graduates this spring. But the English classes he took that required research and reports about the requirements of starting a business will help when he does decide.
'I’ll have a leg up if I decide to start my own business,' he said.
E-mail Beverly A. Carroll at bcarroll@timesfreepress.com