By Shannon G. Rigsby
Mustang Schools
Reprinted with permission
Mustang News
© Jan. 25, 2007
A storage garage on the Mustang High School campus
is slowly being transformed into one of the first automotive technology classes
in Oklahoma for freshman and sophomores. More than 75 students completed
the first semester.
The program is an extension of the middle school technology
education, which is funded through Oklahoma’s Career Tech system.
Chad Harper, who has been with the district since 1998, signed on to
teach the program. Harper worked in the automotive industry not only
while attending school, but also as a second occupation for several years.
He was ASE certified, and passed the instructor certification exams to
teach the course with flying colors.
Mustang Auto Repair Students |
“There isn’t
anything to bridge the gap between Tech Ed, which provides these
opportunities for seventh and eighth graders, and Career Tech,
or technology center offerings for juniors and seniors,” Harper
said. “With Tech Connect, you specialize in a cluster, like
transportation. We have the automotive and two and four cycle engine
repair. We cover general technology, electricity, engines and precision
machines. Freshman and sophomore students can enroll in this class
to explore auto mechanics. If they choose to go on with the program
at a technology center, they go better prepared.”
Harper said
the program has been quickly evolving. Donations continue to arrive,
which will allow Harper to create multiple stations for the August
2007 class. This semester, Harper is introducing the students to
small engine repair and will have stations for that class as well.
Donations
from Career Tech and businesses are making the stations possible.
Career Tech has donated three complete motors. Businesses are donating
a diagnostic machine worth $20,000, transmissions, rear ends and
more. The donations have allowed the students to learn about parts
identification and automotive systems. The last part of the first
semester was devoted to troubleshooting. The classes took a 1950s
model Chevy pickup apart, overhauled the engine and put it back
together again.
“I’ve got kids who come in every single
day. They come early and stay late. I’ve never had that before
as an educator,” Harper said. “Ninety-percent of this class
is centered around giving them practical knowledge that will create
interest.” |
The program also has a Technical Student Association with
40 active members.
“We’re going to go to
some TSA competitions in February,” Harper
said. “A leadership team will be nominated after the first year,
and they will have the opportunity to attend a summer conference. It's
a great deal.”
Students have given the class an “A.”
Freshman Kent Dunbar has a 1949 Chevrolet pickup
that was his grandfathers when he was first married. The truck
has gone through tornadoes, survived days as a wheat truck and
was given to Kent when it quit running.
“Nothing works on it whatsoever. I took the
class to learn more about vehicles,” Kent said. “This
is a great class. I’m learning stuff I never knew about.
I wish the class was a year instead of just a semester.”
Freshman Justin Truong agrees. His father has owned
an automotive repair business in Oklahoma City for three years.
Justin hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue
auto repair as a career.
“I’ve been helping my dad since he opened
the shop. He teaches me a lot, but I wanted to learn more to be
a professional. I thought this class would help,” Justin
said. “It’s awesome. I have learned a lot of things
my dad never got to teach me.” |
Mustang Auto Repair Students |
While
Harper is gearing up for the upcoming semester of small engine repair,
he’s also making plans for the structure of the automotive
technology class next year. Plans have already been made to make small
engine repair a freshman only class, and limit automotive repair to sophomores.
“There
have been some glitches and quirks, but it is really going well. We’ve
got great numbers (enrolled), a great start on curriculum and donations
lined out. When we come in next year, we’ll be off and running.
Every year this will get better and better,” he said. “This
year, I give it a five out of 10. Next year it will be easily be a 10
out of 10.”
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