166 students attended last Monday’s Schools to Tools event, which was held outside Edsel Ford’s auto shop. Mrs. Reno, the automotive teacher, directed the event.
Outside the auto shop, students engaged in several activities. Some of these activities were inside a dedicated Schools to Tools truck, while others were set up outside around the lot. Towards the end of the event, two boys were engaged in a competition to see who could hammer a nail into a plank of wood straighter.
Edsel Ford is no stranger to post-high school prep programs like this. Next week’s College/Career Fair, which will be held in the cafeteria from 6-7:30 P.M., aims to help students figure out where their strengths and interests lie for a potential career, and which college they might want to attend for that career.
Schools to Tools is different, however, in that it is an event focused more on getting students interested in the trades than getting them ready for a college career.
Mrs. Reno was happy to answer several questions regarding the event, which are transcribed here:
Q: How did Schools to Tools start?
RENO: “The program was initially built back in the early 90s with Mr. Reimer, and after Mr. Reimer it was Victor Gregory. It started here but it eventually moved over to Dearborn High and later Fordson High School as well.”
Q: What’s the goal of the program?
RENO: “We students can completely leave Edsel Ford with the opportunity to be in a welding career or a millwrights career, or even an automotive career.”
Mrs. Reno clarified that students engaging in the event were already interested in trades. She also added that students who do well in her class move to a more advanced version of it, which allows them to qualify for over 360 different automotive certifications.
Q: Will there be more events like this at Edsel Ford this year?
RENO: “Usually, it’s just Schools to Tools, but the students sometimes put on a student-led car show towards the end of the year.”
A staff member gives a lecture at an activity table during the event.
Jeremy, a senior at Edsel who has been doing the program for two years, also provided information regarding the event.
Q: “How did you get involved with Schools to Tools?
JEREMY: I got involved because I like the trades. I think it’s good that we’re getting kids out to show them that the trades are an option.”
Q: From your perspective, why is showing them that option important?
JEREMY: “It’s a different lifestyle, a lot of people push college, and college is very expensive. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with going to college, I’m going there college. But it’s expensive, so showing this alternative option is good.
“Everybody’s different. It’s important to give kids the option to do what they want to do.”