Mr. Goldie’s Employability One hopes to bring a new light to manual jobs
November 8, 2019
Employability One, a new elective taught by Dustin Goldie, aims to enlighten students on some post-high school options they may not have been aware of.
A Knight Times survey of 220 students shows that there is some stigma related to hands on jobs. 41% of the responders expressed that they did not think the salary for these jobs was enough for them, and an additional 12% thought that these jobs were typically for people who could not get into college .
Despite these opinions, Goldie is here to put an end to this stigma, and educate students on some effective career paths related to labor.
“My motto is ‘it’s cool to use your hands again to work,’” says Goldie. “[College students] are spending $50-100 thousand in student loan debt, and they’re only making $30-35 thousand a year… what we’re saying with Employability is, let’s get you in contact with local employers that will hire you right out of high school, making upwards of $50-60 grand a year, sometimes up to 80 with overtime, and you’ll have no debt. Those same employers will send you back to school to get a business degree or whatever it may be for free.”
Goldie spoke at the Ignite 3.0 event over the summer to inspire teachers to reimagine how they educate students. He discussed how high school is “boring” for some students, and he suggests that his class combats that issue.
“We’re doing hands-on learning almost twice a week by going on factory tours to businesses,” says Goldie. “And these tours are letting kids see what it’s like to use your hands, they’re in some cases letting them run the machines, actively participate in the daily job.”
In the wake of the most recent field trip, teachers have had complaints about students missing class time.
However, the general consensus seems to be supportive of the field trips and the career opportunities they present. Painting and architecture teacher Angie Guilfoyle agreed, calling the field trips “extremely valuable.”
Although, missing class poses a challenge for students to get caught up with their other assignments.
“I think what’s most important is preparing them for their life after Kings High School,” Guilfoyle says.
Goldie couldn’t agree more.
“It gives the students multiple career pathway options for after high school in case they don’t want to go to college,” Goldie says.
Employability Two is rolling out in January, and Goldie is hopeful for an Employability Three as well, though that would require more students to show an interest in these classes.
Classes such as Goldie’s employability class may be a breakthrough for non-collegiate students in a community.
“I’m really going to do a recruiting blitz to get more and more kids involved. We want to grow this program to the point where we can eventually offer half-day internships,” Goldie says. “Big things are happening in employability.”
Dustin Goldie • Nov 14, 2019 at 1:17 pm
I want to thank everyone for their kind words and their positive promotion of the program. We couldn’t do this program without the great students of Kings High School. They have been awesome this semester. I hope that parents and students will take the time to research how many openings there are for plumbers, electricians, carpentry, mechanics, nurses and machinists. Touring these factories, meeting the owners, the CEO’s and Presidents, they want young people to come to them so they can train them, and they will help pay, sometimes 100% of your college education if you choose to go to school while working for them. We must change mindsets one person at a time. “Its Cool To use our Hands Again to Work”. Thank you Joe for writing this article and thank you Mrs. Nichols for promoting articles that impact kids.
Jordan Danko • Nov 14, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Way cool! Keep up the good work 🙂
Carrie Rowe • Nov 14, 2019 at 12:58 am
I think this is great. Way to go Mr Goldie. There are too many tradesman job that are left unfilled with the baby boomers retiring. A trade job is an honest wage. Tradesmen can make quite a bit of money. There are so many kids that don’t realize the amount of money they can make by having these careers. Yet there are many kids going to college that end up not finishing school or even worse finishing school yet unable to find work I that field and now they are in debt. I think that the seniors should be aware of the opportunities with trade schools and apprenticeships.
Carrie Rowe • Nov 14, 2019 at 12:53 am
I think this is great. Way to go Mr Goldie. There are too many tradesman job that are left unfilled with the baby boomers retiring. A trade job is an honest wage. Tradesmen can make quite. But if money but yet there are so many kids that don’t realize the amount of money they can make by having these careers. Yet there are many kids going to college that end up not finishing school or even worse finishing school yet unable to find work I that field and now they are in debt. I think that there should that seniors should be aware of the opportunities with trade schools and apprenticeships.
Sandra Mobley • Nov 13, 2019 at 7:24 pm
I just want people to know that you are a really nice guy my boy really appreciate it you in high school he thought a lot about you he still talks about you to this day and thank you for taking the time out to talk to my son keep up the good work and it’s a great idea what you’re doing forthese kids for these kids.
Angel Delao • Nov 13, 2019 at 7:12 pm
Great job Mr.Goldie! Keep up the great work. I had to borrow well over $100K to graduate with my MBA and after being laid off from a large local company, I had to really think things over. After determining a need for more private medical transportation in the area, a buddy and I started a successful business which required no college education. As owners of USAmbulance in Lebanon, we’d be happy to show your students what a career in EMS can do for them and discuss other medical careers which require limited post-secondary education. Please consider giving us a call – we can even come out to your school for a presentation.
Brian Padgett • Nov 13, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Everything about this program is fantastic! I graduated from Kings in 2004 when industrial arts/wood shop was still offered as an elective. It was a great learning experience, which allowed us to use our hands, get a little dirty, and take something we made home. A coffee table I made is still in my house today. Young people need to understand that there are other paths to success they can take besides college, burden of college debt, and life behind a computer. It is great that the faculty at Kings High School are exposing kids to hands-on learning the good old fashioned way.