Cptn. Snyder answers student's questions about being a pilot.

I must stop here and loudly thank my guest and airline pilot, Captain Eric Snyder, for  attending. Not only did he drive 2 hours to get here,  and then stand out in the hot sun for 3 more, but he talked and talked with our students, telling wonderful stories about traveling the world and patiently answering all thier questions (even when they asked if he was afraid of heights for the hundredth time). My informal polling later that day showed he was a top favorite. 

The event was in two parts: one was a formal assembly, in which student council members interviewed several professionals, including a neurologist, an inventor, a lawyer, a museum director, and several public service jobs. But the real fun was out a t the “fairgrounds,” where the firemen and beach rescue had pulled up their trucks, a welder was demonstrating his blowtorch, Verizon had electrical gadgets the kids could take a part, and several others (including my favorite pilot!) had tables set up. Kids could wander around and talk one-on-one with anyone and everyone.

As I circulated with the other teachers and helped supervise, we all noticed something amazing happening out on the PE field that day: these kids were genuinely interested and curios, they were asking very good questions, and  without a doubt they were–without a multiple choice test in sight– learning. 

Students get a peek inside the firetruck.

Our Library put together a special display section on careers especially for this event. Featured titles included:

Career Building Through Blogging by Deirdre Day-MacLeod. Even some of our teachers didn’t know this was a viable career field.

Working In The Fashion Industry by Margaret McAlpine. Not to be discounted (was that a pun?); there’s serious money and huge career opportunities in this industry. 

Working With Animals by Margaret McAlpine.

Cool Careers Without College for People Who Love to Organize, Manage, and Plan by Robert Greenberger. GREAT series! Covers a range of interests, form nature to computers to building. What a concept: introducing careers based on what kids actually like to do!)

Earning Money by Patricia J. Murphy. Basics, basics, basics.

Design and Technical Art by Richard Spilsbury.

How The President Is Elected by Heather Lehr Wagner. Aim big, kids.