DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / February 5, 2000

VACHERIE – What are we going to do today? Those are words that have reached St. James Junior High teacher ZedelWhittington’s ears more often than not this year.

Whittington teaches the eighth-grade class Training Resources for Employment Exploration. The class is specifically a middle school classdesigned to prepare the kids for the working world.

The eighth-graders are “planning for high school, choosing careers and looking at courses they need in high school to accomplish this,” said Whittington. She also said TREE gives them the equipment to start with thetools they need.

The class helps show students how to find the right job. The kids learn howto build their resumes and how to dress for the interview.

As an activity the class participates in its own separate fire drill, explained Whittington. The kids are expected to get up from their chairs and shakethree other peoples hands while maintaining eye contact.

That business contact is part of what is expected of the class. Also, thestudents learn to show respect when listening to others, taking on new responsibilities and other skills used to succeed in the business world.

“The first half of the year is preparing for a job,” said Whittington. Thestudents have invited members of the community to speak in their classroom, interviewed people about their jobs, constructed portfolios for interviews and learned how to get the job they want.

It’s worked so well that “one parent is now job hunting because she now knows how to do it from her child,” said Whittington.

The second half of the year is devoted to actually learning to run a business.

Some of the students will interview for part-time jobs at the school; others are starting a car wash and setting up a store. Some of the students havesuggested that since they enjoy pressing clothes they could offer their skills to the teachers and set up a pressing business.

Whittington is amazed the class has made the students so enthusiastic. Allstudents are required to take the class during the eighth grade.

“I think the course should be offered at all the middle schools,” said Whittington.

Principal John Brass has started telling others about the class’s success. Hehas offered the program to their sister school, J.B. Martin Middle School inSt. Charles Parish, and hopes they will take a close look at using it as well.

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