Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

EDITORIAL

The issue: TBA sponsors Skills USA Competition

Our view: Recognition is important

Related story: Students get wired for work

February 10, 2012

Trades students get chance to demonstrate their skills

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Time is ticking down and there are just minutes to make that final, crucial connection.

The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District student chooses the right length of 12-gauge Romex, runs it to the junction box, stapling it to the studs along the way, threads it through the knock-out and makes it secure. The crowd roars.

OK, even those of us who don't know Romex from rotini know that learning how to properly wire new construction is not a spectator sport. But we should all recognize how crucial it is that young people getting ready to enter the construction trades have a place to learn and hone their abilities.

Just as importantly, they should have a chance to show off their knowledge, and that's where the Skills USA Competition comes in. Sponsored by the TBA-ISD Career Tech Center, the competition gives TBA-ISD students a chance to perform work under real-world time constraints and move on to statewide competition. TBA-ISD offers 23 programs to provide training to students from a five-county area.

Eight electrical occupation students demonstrated their wiring abilities during a recent event.

"It was a real eye-opener; it definitely showed me what it would be like on a job site," said Brandon Scott, a junior from Mancelona

It's not often that students other than athletes or those in the performing arts get to show off what they've learned, so the Skills USA Competition is a unique opportunity.

What they do is important, and it's important for them to know their work is recognized and appreciated.

Think of them when you turn on the lights tonight.

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