Yes, I know, things are a little tough
in Ashland, Wisconsin, right now. Loss of the Fort James paper plant and
more than 200 good jobs there can be considered devastating. Fine dedicated
people are without an income, and many more are involved in helping them
find new opportunity.
Most of us know of at least one recent graduate desperately
seeking employment and I'll bet many of us have memories of that dark valley
we explored between jobs. And, few of us knew about the top quality schools
aimed at helping people get good jobs. Very probably because, at the time,
for many of us, only a few were in existence!
If there is one thing common to all the harbors and coasts
of Lake Superior, it is the hundreds of power and sailboats either based
there or cruising by. All of these boats have two things in common - they
have some form of mechanical propulsion and an owner with a belief that
a turn of the key or a pull of the rope will ignite unbridled power.
Either through total ignorance of the needs of their fuel-fed
"oarsmanî or inadvertent damage, the time arrives when skilled mechanical
assistance is of paramount importance. The lifeless lack of response can
be a fuel problem as simple as water contamination or just not enough fuel.
Or - perish the thought - the miles of carefully wound copper wire that
supports the ignition components just decided to quit.
Who do we call?
It was this thought that triggered the creation of the two-year
technical diploma in marine engine repair at Ashland's Wisconsin Indianhead
Technical College (WITC) - one of the four fine Indianhead schools. The
others are at Rice Lake, New Richmond and Superior.
It seems odd, but this is the only school of it's type around
Lake Superior offering these skills. And what a school it is.
The Ashland campus offers the two-year program, entitled
"Marine Repair Technician," which includes in-depth training on outboard,
inboard and stern-drive marine engines. The course also includes sessions
on minor hull repair. The classes develop the students' mechanical and
troubleshooting skills to a much higher level than earlier, shorter and
condensed programs.
Students are required to complete an internship between the
first and second years. This allows the student to develop job-finding
skills and gives them first-hand experience working in the marine industry.
By graduation, the students are well-qualified to enter the field of marine
service.
So many of us are so comfortable in our world of work that
we probably only glance at the youngsters passing by, as we try to digest
computers, new navigational techniques and processes totally foreign just
a few months ago.
The Wisconsin Indianhead Technical Colleges and their sister
schools deal everyday with facts most of us prefer to ignore. Offering
an educational opportunity to young folks sounds easy, but explaining the
challenges they face is awesome. Just think about these problems now commonly
accepted as workplace realities.
Technology is changing so rapidly that retraining and new
training for new jobs is likely to be a lifetime activity! Experts predict
that within the next 15 years, about 80 percent of jobs will be new to
the workplace.
Today, technical education is a smart choice. Did you know
that the majority of jobs by the year 2010 will require a technical education?
OK, neither did I! My daughter-in-law has boasted for years
about the skills passed along in the Duluth Vocational/Technical Institute,
now part of Lake Superior College. Old friends passed their skills along
there for years, but I confess I didn't really focus on what all of this
means to the young people involved as students.
My visit to the WITC-Ashland campus was an eye-opening and
positive experience. As a boater, I found myself examining the Marine Repair
Technician program for almost obvious reasons. And what a surprise to find
Todd Larson, an old friend and young Duluthian, as one of the enthusiastic
instructors.
"Todd," I said, "I'm a bit along in years, but I want to
learn to fix marine engines!"
We all know the grimacing shadow of a smile - and the thoughtful
remarks which follow someone thinking he is trapped and must be at least
civil.
"Well," he said, handing me a printed page, "we can at least
consider you. Why don't you examine these requirements?"
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