January 15, 2008
Changing perspectives - Encouraging high school students to take an interest in horticulture
By Joanne Durst,
Head of Technological Studies, Stephen Lewis Secondary School
High school students are increasingly pressured by their parents to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, business and computers. For many, careers (particularly in horticulture) are stumbled upon through a summer job experience. Since Ontario’s curriculum was shortened to four years instead of five, students don’t have as many summer job opportunities. They are forced to make career decisions at a very young age, resulting in perhaps the opportunity of only one part-time or summer job. Many do not have the skills or maturity to make career decisions, yet are forced to do just that. So how do we, as horticulture professionals, encourage students to consider a career outside of the one their parents pressure them to enter?
Stephen Lewis Secondary School is a new school in West Mississauga. Opening in 2006 with grades 9 and 10, it has grown to grade 11 this year (to approximately 750 students), and will be at full capacity in fall 2008. SLSS is located in a rapidly growing community. New house and landscape construction are booming in this area. It is adjacent to many of the major plant nurseries and businesses, including close proximity to Landscape Ontario. There is vast potential for cooperative education (work placements where students earn high school credits), apprenticeship, skilled and unskilled labour job opportunities.
As a new school with new technology and a fresh approach to green industry careers, Stephen Lewis Secondary School has an opportunity to change perspectives. SLSS is a pilot school in the Peel District School Board for a new initiative called the Secondary High Skills Major (SHSM) in Landscape Design and Construction. The program is a cluster of courses with a horticulture emphasis that allows students to earn high school credits while they gain valuable experience and knowledge in the horticulture industry. They also have an opportunity to gain industry certification from Landscape Ontario. We are striving to get the program off the ground by the spring of 2008 with the first horticulture class. How do we begin?
We have started with a garden. The garden was designed by staff and students, based on the theme of diversity. The diversity includes culture, both plant and human. The garden will be an outdoor classroom with a diverse variety of plant types, along with a naturalised area. Much of the material has been donated. The Region of Peel donated compost, while the City of Mississauga donated mulch and the Credit Valley Conservation Authority donated plant materials. The school has also purchased materials through grant money and an initiative created by Dave Ellis (one of the teachers) called “toonies for trees.” What started as a small group project has grown. As students see the garden taking shape, they become involved and interested in much more than just creating this one garden. They begin to see the value of horticulture as a career.
Every Landscape Ontario member is encouraged to adopt a high school. Many high schools are struggling for much-needed funding to start any type of school or community garden, or to begin horticulture programs. By becoming involved in high school programs, professionals expose students and their parents to exciting opportunities in horticulture and landscape construction that they may not otherwise be aware of.
As we embark on the SHSM, we are optimistic that with the involvement of students, teachers and the industry, Landscape Design and Construction High Skills Major at SLSS will blossom.
Caption; Students at Stephen Lewis Secondary School created a garden around the theme of diversity.
Head of Technological Studies, Stephen Lewis Secondary School
High school students are increasingly pressured by their parents to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, business and computers. For many, careers (particularly in horticulture) are stumbled upon through a summer job experience. Since Ontario’s curriculum was shortened to four years instead of five, students don’t have as many summer job opportunities. They are forced to make career decisions at a very young age, resulting in perhaps the opportunity of only one part-time or summer job. Many do not have the skills or maturity to make career decisions, yet are forced to do just that. So how do we, as horticulture professionals, encourage students to consider a career outside of the one their parents pressure them to enter?
Stephen Lewis Secondary School is a new school in West Mississauga. Opening in 2006 with grades 9 and 10, it has grown to grade 11 this year (to approximately 750 students), and will be at full capacity in fall 2008. SLSS is located in a rapidly growing community. New house and landscape construction are booming in this area. It is adjacent to many of the major plant nurseries and businesses, including close proximity to Landscape Ontario. There is vast potential for cooperative education (work placements where students earn high school credits), apprenticeship, skilled and unskilled labour job opportunities.
As a new school with new technology and a fresh approach to green industry careers, Stephen Lewis Secondary School has an opportunity to change perspectives. SLSS is a pilot school in the Peel District School Board for a new initiative called the Secondary High Skills Major (SHSM) in Landscape Design and Construction. The program is a cluster of courses with a horticulture emphasis that allows students to earn high school credits while they gain valuable experience and knowledge in the horticulture industry. They also have an opportunity to gain industry certification from Landscape Ontario. We are striving to get the program off the ground by the spring of 2008 with the first horticulture class. How do we begin?
We have started with a garden. The garden was designed by staff and students, based on the theme of diversity. The diversity includes culture, both plant and human. The garden will be an outdoor classroom with a diverse variety of plant types, along with a naturalised area. Much of the material has been donated. The Region of Peel donated compost, while the City of Mississauga donated mulch and the Credit Valley Conservation Authority donated plant materials. The school has also purchased materials through grant money and an initiative created by Dave Ellis (one of the teachers) called “toonies for trees.” What started as a small group project has grown. As students see the garden taking shape, they become involved and interested in much more than just creating this one garden. They begin to see the value of horticulture as a career.
Every Landscape Ontario member is encouraged to adopt a high school. Many high schools are struggling for much-needed funding to start any type of school or community garden, or to begin horticulture programs. By becoming involved in high school programs, professionals expose students and their parents to exciting opportunities in horticulture and landscape construction that they may not otherwise be aware of.
As we embark on the SHSM, we are optimistic that with the involvement of students, teachers and the industry, Landscape Design and Construction High Skills Major at SLSS will blossom.
Caption; Students at Stephen Lewis Secondary School created a garden around the theme of diversity.