Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 16, 1990 TAG: 9005150183
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: FRITZ RITSCH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Northwood's "Occupation Day," set for Tuesday, May 29, is part of a state-mandated directive to start building career awareness among younger pupils, says Ruth Vordo, guidance counselor for Northwood and Claremont elementary schools.
Using vehicles seemed the best way to tell elementary pupils about careers.
This is not the first time Northwood has used vehicles as educational tools. For the past few years, both Northwood and Claremont have sponsored "Vehicle Day," a chance for children to get a close look at fire trucks, police cars and other vehicles.
On Occupation Day, the drivers will use their vehicles as props to describe their work.
Jobs that require flashy vehicles are not the only ones to be represented on Occupation Day.
The town manager will come to school to talk about local government.
But he might have a hard time encouraging any future civic leaders, however, if he doesn't have a cool car.
He will be competing with trucks from Appalachian Power Co., C&P Telephone Co., Marshall Cement Co., and two local flower shops. PJ's Carousel Plant in Newbern is bringing a carousel for the kids to examine.
Bernard LaFleur, a local inventor whose son goes to Northwood, will bring a hovercraft. And Pulaski County Speedway is even providing a race car.
Children at the elementary level are most aware of what their parents do for living, or of visible and exciting careers like police or fire department work.
"We're opening up their world . . . to other possibilities that maybe they haven't thought about," Vordo says. "A child might not ever even think about a flower shop."
The children's response to Vehicle Day always has been positive, says Vordo, and that bodes well for Occupation Day.
Last year, a local funeral home brought over an old hearse that had doubled as an ambulance in its heyday.
"The kids crawled all over it," says Pam Chitwood, a teacher who coordinated the event last year. "It made the whole thing not so mysterious and scary for them."
Besides its educational value, Occupation Day has been good for community relations, Vordo said.
Parents and businesses are clamoring to get involved. At this point, Vordo can't predict how many occupations will be represented at the event.
"Response has been very positive throughout the community," she said.
She views the event as one way to get the community involved in education, an emphasis of the Pulaski County School Board and Superintendent James Burns.
Teachers will follow up on Occupation Day by asking their pupils to share through drawings, books, and story-telling what careers they found most exciting.
by CNB