
DATE: Monday, April 28, 1997                TAG: 9704280047

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PHILLIP PURYEAR, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   61 lines

TAKING A KID TO WORK OPENS NEW DOORS COUNTY'S SCHOOL-BUSINESS PROGRAM MATCHES STUDENTS AND MENTORS.

For Elizabeth City State University Chancellor Mickey L. Burnim, it was a typical day spent preparing speeches, having lunch and handling the press with an eloquence that is no doubt second nature.

For fifth-grader Lavorus Whidbee, a future ECSU student and educator who attends Central Elementary School in Perquimans County, it was entirely new.

But the 11-year-old handled it with an innocent candor that amused Burnim and the press alike.

``It's been a boring day,'' said Whidbee, halfway through his morning with Burnim. ``It's been a traveling day and a busy day. I was expecting a bigger office.''

No matter how small Burnim's corner office is, Thursday was not a day Lavorus is likely to forget.

Nor is it likely a day to be forgotten by any of the fifth-graders in the Perquimans County school system who spent a day at work with parents or mentors, such as College of The Albemarle Dean Lynn Winslow and District Court Judge J.C. Cole in Currituck County.

``Take Your Kids to Work Day'' is Perquimans County's spin-off on the popular Ms. Foundation's ``Take Your Daughters to Work Day,'' according to Anne White, the Perquiman County Schools' program coordinator for the past three years.

``When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time dreaming about my future,'' White said. ``A large percentage of our students seem to have stopped dreaming or thinking about their futures together.''

``Take Your Kids To Work Day'' serves as a way to inspire those dreams. It is part of a month-long career awareness effort that Perquimans County School mounts every April.

It is also part of the system's involvement with the COA-Chowan-Gates JobReady partnership, a program with a long-term goal of preparing students for the transition from school to work.

Other school systems in the Albemarle have formed similar school-business partnerships.

``We hope to motivate students to become excited about learning by showing them the relationship between what they learn in school amd what they will need to become a productive part in the 21st century work force,'' White said.

That mission of preparing leaders for the next millenium is one Burnim shares; it's the reason for his willingness to open his door to Lavorus.

``I try to make any positive impact that I can on anyone's life,'' the chancellor said. ``Ms. White thought I'd be a good role model. And if I can inspire a fifth-grader to set his sights higher, I'm more than happy to be a role model.

``I see this as an opportunity to teach, which is my goal with everything that I do.'' ILLUSTRATION: KIDS TO WORK PROGRAM

``Take Your Kids to Work Day'' is Perquimans County's spin-off on

the popular Ms. Foundation's ``Take Your Daughters to Work Day,''

according to Anne White, the Perquiman County Schools' program

coordinator for the past three years.

``When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time dreaming about my

future,'' White said. ``A large percentage of our students seem to

have stopped dreaming or thinking about their futures together.''