Hard hats, hammers and hot dogs

RATHDRUM - There’s something irresistible about knocking a few hours off a routine school day and using that time to learn how to climb a utility pole, operate heavy equipment, use a brad nailer or try your hand at welding.

Hard Hats, Hammers and Hot Dogs, an event held Wednesday at KTEC (Kootenai Technical Education Campus), offered these possibilities and more to the 600 North Idaho students who signed up for the hands-on field trip. KTEC, the new professional technical high school on the Rathdrum Prairie, gamely showed off its own classrooms and shops, as well as exhibits and demonstrations from local manufacturers and employers.

According to KTEC director Mark Cotner, “I want these kids to climb on a piece of equipment and actually operate it so they find out what they can do. I want to hear them say, ‘Man, I really like this.’ Hard Hats, Hammers and Hot Dogs is the brainchild of our community and its purpose is to catch kids early on and make them aware of job opportunities in our own area.” Full story. George Kingson, Cda Press

Lots was written yesterday regarding local grads not being ready for college-level math. But what if your kid doesn’t want to attend college and opts for a blue collar job? Would you be okay with that?