A high school shop class is often thought of as a place where a student can get away from ordinary academics and get his or her hands dirty.
That’s not quite the case with Streamwood High School’s machine tool program. True, the students work with their hands, but they also work on computers and take specialty math and technical English classes.
The pilot project, now in its third year, recently was adopted by the Elgin-based Unit School District 46 board as an official district program.
The formal adoption gives the program financial support for books, supplies and staffing, and will allow students from U-46’s three other high schools to participate in the program.
Previously, the program has relied on donations from local manufacturing companies, which have supplied machines and tools for the program, according to U-46 vocational director Ellie MacKinney.
MacKinney said the district expanded the program because the machine-tool industry has experienced a shortage of people going into the field. She said formal adoption only enhances students’ opportunities by providing more support.
Indeed, manufacturing companies have an interest in helping the program, said Bob Gorlewski, machine-tool teacher at Streamwood High School.
Gorlewski said by helping the program, companies will have entry-level talent ready to start working upon graduation.
But Streamwood’s program is not just focused on simple labor.
Students take technical math classes, and apply what they’ve learned. They also fill out time reports for work performed and write technical papers.
Gorlewski even has his students write resumes, send them out and call companies for mock interviews.
Last year, 15 students graduated from the machine-tool program. Gorlewski said each was offered a job in the field.
Gorlewski said he hopes to further remove the “boys only” stigma of shop classes by encouraging more girls to enter.
“It’s not about how strong you are,” he added, “but about how smart you are.”
