Perquimans P COplC
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Personal appearance is a unit in
Home economics class.
Members of Phil Greenwell's agriculture class learn about small engines.
Vocational Education program lets students
gain valuable experience, learn by doing
!?'
Learning by doing is the idea behind vocational
education in the Perquimans County Schools. With a
vocational background in high school, students can
I sometimes graduate with many of the skills they need
f to land a job.
? The Perquimans Schools will celebrate Vocational
> Education Week, along with other schools in North
? Carolina February 6 through 12.
? The theme for the week-long salute will be "Voca
? tional Education: An Investment in People."
? "The vocational program teaches skills that enables
? students to go directly to a job," said Elaine Pritchard,
? vocational guidance counselor and chairman for Voca
tional Education Week.
Six instructional areas are included in the Per
quimans vocational program, including mechanics,
drafting, carpentry, agriculture, business and home
economics. In the area of business, students can take
classes in typing, shorthand, data processing, accoun
ting and cooperative office occupations.
A career center and job placement program has been
added this year, coordinated by Teri Copeland.
This program provides counseling services to in
school youth and placement in community
employment.
The Vocational Education program serves probably
45 percent of the students at Perquimans High, accor
ding to Pritchard. Although the classes are open to all
students at the school and many academic students are
enrolled in vocational classes, many of the vocational
students are not interested in going to college.
"We really don't have to recruit students because
since this is basically a rural area, kids want the
agricultural and the typing classes," commented
Pritchard.
Clubs which involve vocational students include the
Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA)
chapter, the Future Business Leaders of America,
Future Homemakers of America, Future Farmers of
America and the Health Careers Club.
One of the highlights of Vocational Education Week
will be a fair, located at the Southgate Mall in Elizabeth
City. According to Pritchard, Perquimans will have
five or more booths at the fair including business, voca
tional guidance, drafting, carpentry, and mechanics.
The Perquimans County Schools include many
valuable and worthwhile programs. But, the vocational
education program offers not only instruction, but also
on-the-job training, actual experience, and job place
ment, when possible. These "extras" give the students
a head start when going out into a competitive job
market.
Story and photos by Val Short
f
MS
elvin Coston learns to cook in Home Ec. class.
Practice makes perfect is Marion Byrd's typing class.