GIRLS FLOCK TO TECH COURSE
All-female class explores trades
Peri Colthurst first toured the construction academy at St. Joseph’s secondary school as a Grade 8 student last year and was immediately intrigued.
“It was really cool,” the now Grade 9 student said. “I mean you can see they’re making houses.”
When St. Joe’s announced it was offering an all-girls technology course to Grade 9 students, Colthurst quickly signed up.
“I thought it was only for Grade 11s,” said the 13-year-old, who enjoyed helping build a family deck. “When I heard there was an opportunity to do this in Grade 9 I knew I wanted to.”
The fact it was an all-girls class sealed the deal.
“I’m not sure I would have done it if it was mostly boys in the class,” she said. “This is just comfortable.”
The Windsor-essex County District School Board, like many others, has been promoting careers in skilled trades and encouraging girls to enrol in tech courses but often they’re reluctant to take on a course where the class is mainly boys.
“It’s intimidating,” principal David Labute said.
When the school opted for a girls-only format, it quickly maxed out the class at 20 students.
“It’s been awesome,” construction teacher Ryan Coop said Wednesday while overseeing the students staining the wood jewelry boxes they’ve made. “They are more enthusiastic than any class I’ve ever had and they’re more eager to get in the shop than any guy I’ve ever had.”
He’s taught girls in a mixed setting and found them more reserved.
“I think there is a bit of an intimidation factor because of the guys,” Coop said.
Emily Davidson also signed up when she heard there would be an all-girls class for the learning technology course.
With her father in the construction business, the 14-year-old Davidson has helped him with a few projects around the house.
“He does a lot of drywall and tiling,” she said.
Working with wood, tools and saws is something new.
“It’s actually been really fun,” Davidson said. “I’m learning a lot of new things. I never knew how to operate a saw before.”
Once (the girls) have the confidence, they’ll go into industry and they’ll be able to hold their own.
The course will move the class through two other sections besides the construction segment they are now wrapping up. The girls will take an automotive segment where they learn basic maintenance and the final section will introduce them to computer aided design and drafting.
Eventually, if the girls move further into tech courses they will do so in a mixed setting with boys.
“This is a great way to build up to that,” Colthurst said.
Coop has no doubt his female students are more than capable.
“Once they have the confidence, they’ll go into industry and they’ll be able to hold their own,” he said.