Patrick Carroll beamed under the beams he helped raise.
This new home on Gravel Ridge Trail has the finger prints of the Cambridge teen in a red Dr Pepper T-shirt and a dozen other St. Benedict high school students all over it.
It’s the completed class project in Community Home Building 101.
“This is definitely better than sitting in class” said the Grade 12 student.
“How many kids get to say they built a house?”
Well, 13 boys can say so this year.
Two years ago, his older brother Tyler was one. Although Tyler has yet to land a job in the industry, he recommended the program to Patrick.
About 270 students have taken part over 10 years of the Waterloo Region catholic board’s homebuilding course collaboration with the home builders of Reid’s Heritage Group, who have overseen the 19 homes built by students in that time.
Yes, the students get a grip on a hands-on education that tests their aptitude for the skilled trades that are always in demand. The Conference Board of Canada expects there will be a shortage of 55,000 skilled construction workers by 2015.
The catholic board’s experiential learning consultant, Steve Tangney, says more than half the students who’ve passed through the program have gone on to work in the trades.
But, just a little, you might wonder about the quality of the homes built by teens.
Fret not, says Tangney. They are sturdier than many others.
“These houses are over-inspected and overbuilt,” Tangney said.
Tangney says Reid employees have purchased some of the homes themselves because they know how thoroughly the projects are overseen.
And course instructor Michael Berger, a 14-year house framer, had a long list of expert on-site tradesmen to thank as the class celebrated the home’s essential completion.
Tom the Mason. Troy the Plumber. Chris the Siding Guy. Norm the Painter. Shawn the Framer.
From September to January, it was a collaborative educational effort.
“It’s been one long learning curve for us all,” said Berger, after overseeing his first student project. “This is the best classroom ever.”
But it’s not all hammers, hangnails and drywall dust.
Twice a week, the class went to Conestoga College to learn the kind of math they’ll need to build a home that won’t fall down.
But even in this course, there is ultimately no escape from pens and paper and high school’s traditional test of knowledge learned.
“Don’t forget,” Berger told his students as the celebration ended.
“Tomorrow is the exam.”
by Jeff Hicks, The Record
http://www.therecord.com/iphone/news/article/661648--cambridge-kids-build-house-in-kitchener