THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9406240254
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940626 LENGTH: SUFFOLK
They had a good reason.
{REST} ``Our economy is such that technical areas are where the jobs are going to be,'' said Peggy S. Wade, center director.
``The week gave students the opportunity to see what some of their options are.''
Those options include electricity, horticulture and landscaping, auto body refinishing, welding, electronics, television communications, cosmetology, health occupations, masonry and business education.
``The kids sample a little bit of each,'' said Craig Cope, electronics instructor at Pruden. ``That gives them a better selection to pick from.''
For the students, ages 13 to 17, it was like sampling one of each from a large candy counter, at no cost, and deciding what is best.
``This week the students look around and, hopefully, return when they get into the 11th or 12th grade,'' Wade said. ``As soon as they know they want to come here, the better chance they have of arranging their schedule.''
Interested teens in those grades can spend half of their school day during the regular school year at Pruden, learning whatever it is that interests them.
Most of last week's visitors came from Suffolk, but there were some from Smithfield and Windsor.
``For the past eight or nine years, we've been showing students all the Pruden programs to give them an idea of what goes on at the center,'' Cope said. ``It's hands-on and fun. The main thing is the hands-on experience.''
That means lectures were few and far between. The story at Pruden is learning by doing.
Students in the auto body refinishing class create and cure fender dents.
``This is an introduction to damage repair,'' said instructor Richard Robinson. ``It gives them an insight into this work.''
In the welding robotics class, students work with a simulator before getting into the real thing.
All of the students described the Pruden experience as fun.
``This isn't like school,'' said Keith Arthur, 14, a Lakeland High School student. ``It's fun. I thought this might be fun and that I might learn something.''
It was, and he did. But not enough teens took advantage of the opportunity, according to Cope.
``We had 15 students but had space for more than 20,'' Cope said. ``Different years we try different age groups. This is the smallest number.
``Students must provide transportation, and that cuts back on enrollment,'' he said. ``Also, kids in this age group - once school lets out - that's it.''
Not for Lory French, 14, a Nansemond River High School student, who sacrificed swim lessons to come to Pruden.
``I'm on the Swordfish team, and we usually practice in the morning,'' Lory said. ``But I have to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Auto body repair is interesting, but I like television communications.''
Quinton Jones, 17, a Lakeland High School student, prefers electronics.
``I learned a lot here,'' Quinton said. ``I want to go in the Marines and study electronics. Maybe later I'll come back here for welding.''
by CNB