Liam Tauson admits he hasnB次元官网网址檛 always shown up at school.
Even when the Grade 12 Belmont secondary student did attend, he was often late and didnB次元官网网址檛 always enjoy being there. Things changed when the carpentry program opened up in his second semester this year.
B次元官网网址淚 have always been more hands on, wanting to be outside B次元官网网址� Whenever I am inside just sitting around for hours and hours, I lose interest,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淗ere you donB次元官网网址檛 lose interest, there is always things to do and you always learn. (I) definitely didnB次元官网网址檛 give any effort into school, so this is really good. I learn a fair amount of new skills starting a first-year apprenticeship. IB次元官网网址檓 getting opportunities I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 get at school.B次元官网网址�
He has set his goals now and hopes to get his Red Seal designation in carpentry. HeB次元官网网址檚 grateful for the opportunity to take a more hands-on approach to his education. In recent months heB次元官网网址檚 worked as a labourer on the new Belmont school site, a job which has helped him focus and improve his life skills.
The threat of getting fired or losing his job and eduction is a constant reminder that being late and missing appointments doesnB次元官网网址檛 work in the real world.
The introduction at Belmont of the Trades Awareness Skills and Knowledge (TASK) program last fall is another way the school is offering students an alternative to the traditional curriculum.
Principal Ray Miller said every student is different and heB次元官网网址檚 excited the new situation seems to be working for Tauson.
B次元官网网址淚t has reached the point where right now we offer these programs created for young people like Liam,B次元官网网址� Miller said. B次元官网网址淲e are trying to create more value to learning, where what you do translates into something that works in your adult life B次元官网网址� not that it hasnB次元官网网址檛 always been. But it is definitely a shift to that focus to create something of value for students, something that they can take away from their high school experience and can manufacture a job or career or another learning (opportunity) in the future."
Site foreman for the new Belmont school, Kyle Leslie, has been working with Tauson since the latter started cleaning, cutting and hammering his way onto the site in March, and said 18-year-old and others have been doing a good job.
B次元官网网址淵ou can tell they want to be working, they are not just here because of school,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey like it and get to see all the different (tradesmen). At school they have their teacher itB次元官网网址檚 a completely different atmosphere. (This) is about working hard, showing up on time and not being afraid of breaking a sweat.B次元官网网址�
Leslie, 28, understands TausonB次元官网网址檚 situation. He, too, found his path through a trades program in high school. Ten years later, he is the foreman on one of the biggest construction projects in the West Shore.
B次元官网网址淚 did that program. I was one of the first to do the apprenticeship program as a student (in Haida Gwaii) for the same reason. I knew as a kid I was going to be doing this,B次元官网网址� he said.
Tauson said it was the right call at the right time.
B次元官网网址淚t is great because this is an actual job. If it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for this I probably would have screwed myself at school. I can actually focus here, because I never did in school.B次元官网网址�
alim@vicnews.com
