Construction class offers career training
Staff reporter
There's a Chinese proverb that says: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
A new class at Marion High School, construction technology, could do just that.
Instead of providing students with limited classroom knowledge of constructing buildings, this class provides hands-on, practical training that can be used on real job sites.
"Some students in the class are college-bound," said teacher Luke King, "and some will join the work force. Regardless, this class offers a training ground after high school to have experience to be able to get a job."
King explained that most construction companies prefer to hire someone with experience. This class will provide it.
No stranger to construction work, King taught an industrial technical class on the middle school level for two years in Colorado.
"It was similar to this class but it was more of an applied science class than hands-on," he said.
King also worked construction part-time and during summers to pay for college at Emporia State University.
After graduation and when he began teaching, he worked for a custom home builder during summers. The past four years he has specialized in basement repairs and remodeling.
Class curriculum
Fourteen students are enrolled in the daily, two-semester class. Designed for juniors and seniors, students are required to have basic woodworking knowledge and skills.
"In the next few weeks, we'll build three garden sheds," King said.
Plans are in the works for another project at the end of the year.
King's goals for his students include the development of positive work habits and competencies necessary for success in the workplace, development of creative abilities to problem solve, work well with others, instill self-confidence and pride in craftsmanship, and meet the needs of local employers by preparing students for careers in the construction industry.
"Safety is an important part of the program," King said.
Classroom instruction is 30 percent of the program and hands-on lessons in the shop or work site is 70 percent.
The course outline provides information and training regarding safety, hand and power tools, building lay outs and site preparation, footings and foundations, wall and roof framing, exterior wall sidings and enclosures, roof finishing, insulation, electrical wiring, plumbing, and mechanical systems.
Career investigation also is a part of the class with field trips to job sites and factories.
Another goal is to include local contractors and construction professionals in the curriculum.
"I want an air conditioning and heating professional to come and talk to the class," King said. "I don't know everything about construction so I'll call on local professionals who do."
King has high aspirations for the program and wants a future class project to be the construction of a house. He knows that might be a year or two away and could take a couple of years to complete. Details would have to be ironed out and the board of education would need to approve it.
King and wife Mattie are 1995 Marion High School graduates and recently returned to Marion.
Mattie is a health coordinator with Head Start. They have two children — Skylar, 3, and Griffin, six months.
King also teaches science at Marion Middle School and is the MMS head football coach.
