Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day

Tomorrow, April 24, 2014, will be the 21^st observance of TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS TO WORK DAY. I have enjoyed an association with this program almost since its inception. Initially it only targeted girls, but boys were added in 2003. Every year on the fourth Thursday in April, millions of boys and girls experience activities and events in order to examine opportunities which will enable them to reach their fullest potential. I have been involved at almost every level of participation---parent taking a child to work, employer encouraging employees to bring their children to work, mentor to other children, and organizer to help promote the program in our community.

Back in my day, there were no special days set aside to explore the world of work. However I did have my own, personal job adviser, my mother. She did her best to make certain that I understood that I needed to be prepared for the workforce. My mother's three preferred jobs were teacher, nurse, and secretary. She had very strong feelings why these were the perfect choices for a woman and don't forget future mother. She believed that these were all jobs that had security, flexibility, and good money (all things important to a woman reared during the Great Depression).

My mother also encouraged me to join groups like 4-H and Girl Scouts. Through these organizations I had additional opportunities to explore many careers. Plus, as it turned out, my mother was my 4-H club adviser and my Girl Scout troop leader. She not only encouraged me as a parent in these organizations, but she guided me through and exposed me to many experiences during my years of participation with these groups. I remember her arranging a wide variety of guest speakers and field trips for my Girl Scout troop and 4-H club-----the Indiana State Legislature, a local dairy, the Indiana State Fair, a radio show (Don McNeill's Breakfast Club with “Aunt Fanny”), the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, etc.

I still am amazed that my mother, who did not have a lot of formal training, was able to provide me with endless opportunities to find my niche in life. She tolerated my bug and leaf collections in her dining room, supported my furniture refinishing projects, helped me with food preparation for 4-H competitions, allowed me to use her sewing machine (the lady across the road on Sandpoint actually taught me to sew), exposed me to travel and museums, survived my attempts at singing in a “girl group” accompanied by an accordion, and hauled me around to all the relatives (my mother had nine siblings living in Fort Wayne) so that I could sell my Girl Scout cookies.

As I look at pictures of my self during my middle school and early high school years, I see me exploring many different activities that could have led me down some very different and interesting paths in life-----entomology, interior design, politics, performing arts, forestry, or sales. All of these careers could have been pursued at Purdue University. Instead, I chose to stick to a career path found on my mother's approved list. After all, she was footing the bill and I only had a $75.00 “June is Dairy Month “ scholarship to get me started at Purdue (it only covered my first semester's tuition bill).

Sadly, the Wilmington area does not promote TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS TO WORK DAY much any more. Since local principals rejected the idea of a day away from classrooms (so close to end-of-year testing), the program has almost become nonexistent. It is unfortunate for the young folks in this community because there are scholarships available from the TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS TO WORK DAY Foundation. Teachers and school counselors are asked to submit essays written by students about their on-the-job experiences. These essays are used for consideration when awarding the scholarships.

One bright spot is that as local schools and community organizations work to bring more attention to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education, they are actually bringing attention to career exploration. Yesterday (4/22/14), there was a story in the STARNEWS about the STEM teacher at Dixon Elementary who had arranged for her students to “talk live” to an astronaut at the International Space Station. The teacher said “the space talk was a unique experience for everyone involved and may be the beginning of a new generation of space explorers and scientists.” Thus, we have a win-win for science education, job opportunities, and a brighter, stronger America for future generations.