Notice that El Camino High School would not be offering Auto Shop brought about much alarm to students and parents alike. The controversy extends into Home Ecs and other electives that are being pulled from the 2104/15 curriculum.
Former student Peter Rios’ letter to the SMDJ editor urging parents to speak up to SSFUSD administration cited why he believes the course is beneficial. “Studies have suggested that through “Project-based learning”, students learn better and develop everyday math and physics skills from completion of successful projects. Various mathematical concepts such as the Pythagorean Theorem, fractions and geometry all come to play when auto shop students take measurements needed to develop their projects.” He writes. He also says this course teaches students how to become self-reliant and persistence.
Jack Kirkpatrick comments on the SMDJ are worthy of sharing here:
With the demise of the Regional Occupational Program in San Mateo County and statewide we are losing a fast-track job-training. The flexibility of ROP is vital. Programs in community college are not always efficient due to their compartmentalization. For example, automotive technology may be in three parts, one part per semester whereas, ROP was designed to move students through the training process as a student gains his skills. It is seamless so that many students do not need to wait around for part two, part three…!
In computers proficiency in keyboarding leads to training in various programs as fast as the student can consume the knowledge/training over a shorter period of time.
The sooner we can train people in their profession, the sooner they may be hired. As soon as people can start earning money, they may decide to return to college.
The District has stated the electives offered ‘are based on approved courses of study, teacher availability and credentialing, and student interest’ However, Jim Cresta who has been the schools auto shop instructor for 45 years says there is really high student interest and he is looking to have an after school auto club. In a follow up letter to the SMDJ editor Cresta writes in part, ‘I have seen countless students mature and flourish into skilled productive adults. Many have pursued successful automotive careers in engineering, business or simply working as technicians.’
While our city bridges the old school ‘industrial’ image with the life science industries that have taken hold here, our schools are also feeling the tug between the traditional and the cutting edge of science. ‘We need to educate our students to take on the jobs that are here in our city’ writes Kathy G. ‘Do we need two high schools offering the same electives?’
El Camino High School students will be allowed to take auto shop at South City High or at the Skyline College if they have safe and timely transportation. Those who commented on that suggestion believed it is not feasible.
The District has stated they are ‘looking to transform the school into a science and technology hub that can help prepare students for the future workforce opportunities here in the Bay Area. Our students should not only be able to contribute to the technology sector, they should be leading its next generation. And that is the District’s current focus for El Camino High School.’
However the community has been very vocal in the social media world demanding that auto shop be continued at both schools. ECHS Coach Jake, who spearheaded the school’s playing field, has encouraged people to not only speak out on social media, but to speak up at the District meetings. The next meeting is set for June 12, 7pm at the MSB 33 Arroyo Drive. (if you would like to speak arrive early, fill out a card in the back of the room, and turn it in, and your name will be called)
Phil Fioresi believes not only is Auto Shop important but more of the hands on classes are needed. ‘They need more shop classes, wood shop, metal shop and electrical shop….Those are classes 9 out of 10 people would benefit from more than Calculus in the real world.’ He also questions ‘Why is there such a difference in the amount of electives between our two high schools?’ The District lists 15 electives for El Camino High School including ‘Freshman Seminar’ and South San Francisco High School will be offering 21 elective subjects.
Sue Moock adds, “I agree that non academic electives are needed. Not everyone can go to college. Why is it that ECHS is the “Cinderella” High School. Why does SSFHS have so many more elective options including elective that are offered for four years?”
To see the list of electives to be offered at SSFHS and ECHS please click HERE
The issue of Auto Shop has been such a hot topic the San Mateo Daily Journal and the Channel 7 News have both covered it. When ESC asked for follow up information in our weekly Q/A established with the District spokesperson replied
‘I did not present questions 3-5 to the Superintendent as those questions have been answered in various formats and/or on multiple occasions by the District. In fact, the auto shop question alone has been answered on ESC, San Mateo Daily Journal, and Channel 7.’
(John Kevranian had asked ‘What will it take to keep the shop open at El Camino High School?’ and ESC had asked for clarification if the decision to not offer shop was due to student requests (as ESC was told) or the District’s statement to the SMDJ that they were ‘looking to transform the school into a science and technology hub’)
To gain a better perspective of the numbers of people wanting to see auto shop continued at ECHS we held an informal survey using ‘Survey Monkey’ which only allows for one answer from each computer. The question was straight forward Should Auto Shop be offered at El Camino High School? With a yes or no answer required and a place for comments.
The results were pretty impressive;
There were 180 YES and 9 NO with 22 comments as listed below.
*Yes, it should definitely be offered. US citizens are dependent on their cars and someone has to keep them running. Administrators need to understand that not all students are meant to attend a 4 year college. Skilled auto workers are employable all over America and they also have the option for entrepreneurs.
*Everyone wants the freedom to drive, get to work and enjoy a hobby. This is a relevant class.
*Are there enough students wanting to take this class
*Take it at Skyline if you really want to
*We need workers in this arena
*Everyone should learn a few things about how to take care of a car. Boy’s and Girl’s.
*When my husband and his friend retired from Parkway Heights Middle School, both of their programs were eliminated–woodshop and metal shop. It is a shame that these classes are not available for the students that are interested in making one of these trades their vocation. Not everyone will be going to college, so the skills necessary for carpentry, auto mechanics and metals are not readily available to them. It is just my opinion that this will be a grave injustice to the students who are looking to learn the skills necessary for their future in these fields.
*The SSFUSD should serve the community and offering auto shop is a tangible way of doing so
*My daughter will be attending El Camino in a couple of years. Schools need to focus primarily on academics, but not exclusively.
*I believe it is a very important course. Many people are not geared or interested in the tech. world. Most of us find our cars just as important as our computer we need people educated to maintain both.
*Do not take trade skills out of public schools
*Vocational training is needed at all high schools. El Camino was a pioneer school for this program. Keep Auto Tech!
*It should be offered at el Camino high school because all female and male students alike should learn the basic fundamentals of auto care ie changing a flat tire , checking and gauging tire pressure etc. these are not only necessary but also can be life saving as well.
*No you should not get rid of it…How are our mechanics of the world supposed to learn their trade if you do not offer it…Not everyone wants to mess with computers or dance later in their lives
*It’s important!
*I believe that industrial electives will benefit the entire student body and should not be eliminate
*There are many tech and “shop” classes that should be available for all students. Not everybody is on a College Prep track!
*STOP Taking our programs away from our children!! And people wonder why So City school has such a BAD REPUTATION!
*The auto shop was my favorite subject and it is what kept me in school and it off the streets with my friend who were in gangs in high school. if it weren’t for the auto shop in south city I would have never graduated and would have been involved in gangs myself. I owe so much to Mr. Hill
*It’s a shame that SSFUSD continues to take from these students, they should be ashamed of themselves. But instead let’s “teach” these kids about things they will probably never use.
*There should be a nice range of options offered!
*My son is a fine example of why we need autoshop…..not everyone is meant to be a white collar worker.
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Pete Rios is continuing the fight to see this elective saved at ECH and is sharing this petition;
Hi, Saving auto shop means providing high school students with an opportunity to develop automotive skills that would be useful in their personal lives, professional lives or in the military. There are lots of lucrative opportunities that the automotive industry has to offer graduating high school seniors.
The 2014-15 school year will be the last school year to offer Auto Shop. That’s why I created a petition to South San Francisco Unified School District Board of Trustees, Dr. David Putney, which says: “Save Auto Shop at El Camino High School in South San Francisco. These two classes are at risk of being cut due to low enrollment.” Will you sign my petition? Click HERE to add your name.
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To all who have an opinion on this issue it is important that YOUR voice be heard this Thursday at the District Meeting 7pm at the MSB 33 Arroyo Drive. It is important to remember our School District Board members are our neighbors who we voted into office to represent our community needs and ESC hopes a respectful and progressive dialogue will continue. More on the agendas & minutes of our district meetings click HERE
Its very important to keep autoshop @ El Camino for our future menchanics & blue collar workers