By Paige Thompson
A number of Vocational classes are offered to students at Plymouth High School. One class that has caught students’ attention is at the Scill Center located in Knox. This is an automotive shop and class for students interested in learning additional information about automobiles.
Joshua Holdread is a second year teacher at the Scill Center who instructs students about the automotive field. “[The classroom] has about 50 students total in the automotive program. Scill also sponsors a Welding program and there are about 30 students in that program. “There is progress everyday with each student, learning different things every day,” said Mr. Holdread. “The Scill
The Scill Center is a workshop where students can collaborate with one another to advance their skills in the automotive era.
Center started out with a safety course. Safety is also applied everyday as well depending on the activity being done. “Safety is our key here and on a daily basis they are to start out in the classroom for an hour then out in the shop for a hour and 45 minutes and finish by cleaning the shop for the last 15 minutes,” said Mr. Holdread. [During classroom time] “courses each week depend on how long the chapters are. About a week and a half is the time it takes to finish a chapter. We start out teaching basics of the automotive career and work our way into engine repair, brakes, steering and suspension, electrical and electronic, and engine performance. [Our] automotive program is NATEF approved, which is true of only two auto tech schools in Indiana,” Holdread said.
Even though the students of PHS attend the Scill Center, there are still requirements that are meant to be accomplished. “The requirement is to keep grades up at your home school while attending our school. There is a small fee for uniforms and books as well at the Scill Center,” said Mr. Holdread. In addition students are to “fill out an application with the guidance counselor to be approved.” Instructor Holdread also mentioned, “There is homework, but mostly hands on.” The Scill Center vocational classes are offered to students from nine other schools nearby to attend.
Students at Plymouth High School attend the Scill Center on a daily basis to learn about automotive procedures, requirements, and machinery. Two individuals who take part in the Scill Center are Senior Brendan Thorne and Senior Joseph Smith from PHS. Thorne said, “The students are required to arrive at the Scill Center by 8:30 and sit down and begin class as if it’s a traditional course.” “After about one hour of in the classroom lessons the students then approach the workshop. The lessons we complete are about the regulations and objects of automotives,” Thorne added. “We are then to proceed to the workshop where we are to work with partners on a certain task that is said to be accomplished in a matter of time,” Smith said. Although the students involved at the Scill Center are to complete assignments and workshop tasks on time, students may arrive earlier to get extra assistance. Thorne decided to take this class because he enjoys “working with automobiles and doing hands on activities.” The Scill Center further affects Thorne’s and Smith’s schedule since “between first and fourth hour we are at the Scill Center, then we go back to the high
Students of the Scill Center learn basic materials in classroom setting and then move forward into the workshop as time progresses.
school for fifth and sixth hour.” Thorne and Smith do not mind the schedule effect due to “the preparation the vocational class offers both of us for college and also job opportunities since I am moving forward in the automotive area.” While attending the Scill Center, Thorne said, “The students do hands on activities everyday whether it be something small like an oil change or something big like changing pistons in your engine.” Before taking this class Thorne said, “I just knew the simple things like how to change the oil, brakes, and tires and now I am much more advanced in what I can do.” Smith and Thorne agreed, “The Scill Center is a great place to go if you are wanting to advance in the automotive industry.” After taking part in the Scill Center Thorne and Smith’s career goal is to “gain more strengths in the automotive era and have the ability to go to mechanic college in Ohio, than in addition be presented with a job.” Thorne said, “I am beyond excited to start my career since I have already been accepted into Power Sports Institute (PSI) in Cleveland, Ohio.” As for Smith, he targets “getting accepted soon so that I can develop a greater extent of skills in automotives for my career.”