VOL. XVI, NO. 6
JANUARY 10, 1975
Equal Time
By LORRIE SWANSON
Were you ever sitting in the middle of your ninth period class and suddenly realized you could be doing better things other than falling asleep on your desk? Then maybe office occupations, one of the many work programs here at Maine West, is for you.
Office occupations has about 41 students who work in various offices, restaurants, car dealers, etc. in the surrounding Des Plaines and Park Ridge areas. Mr. Virn McElwain, who teaches the first and second period office occupations classes, helps each student find a job suited to his or her interests and abilities.
"This program has been in effect for about 12 years," explained Alan Snopek '75. "I think anyone who becomes a part of it benefits from this because it gives them valuable experience that can be used as training for a lifetime job."
Most of the students who participate in office occupations work as secretaries, filing clerks, and bookkeepers.
Were you ever sitting in the middle of your ninth period class and suddenly realized you could be doing better things other than falling asleep on your desk? Then maybe office occupations, one of the many work programs here at Maine West, is for you.
Office occupations has about 41 students who work in various offices, restaurants, car dealers, etc. in the surrounding Des Plaines and Park Ridge areas. Mr. Virn McElwain, who teaches the first and second period office occupations classes, helps each student find a job suited to his or her interests and abilities.
"This program has been in effect for about 12 years," explained Alan Snopek '75. "I think anyone who becomes a part of it benefits from this because it gives them valuable experience that can be used as training for a lifetime job."
Most of the students who participate in office occupations work as secretaries, filing clerks, and bookkeepers.
Alan's particular interest is accounting, where he took a first place in a recent office occupations conference. "In the program we have conferences with other office occupations' classes from other schools. We compete in skill contests in typing, shorthand, spelling, accounting, key punch, ten-key adding machines, and other basics that we learn in class and on the job," Alan said.
Each office occupations' class has officers who help make the program function as an organization. The first period officers are Kathy Naruszewicz, president; Laurie Peterson, vice-president; Linda Ryan, secretary; and Pat Schmidt, treasurer. Second period officers include Mary Hutchingson, president; Debbie Fowler, vice‑president; Alan Snopek, secretary; and Bernadette Nuesslein as treasurer. All are seniors.
"Office occupations is a terrific program for students concerned with their future if they don't plan on a four‑year college or business school," Alan summed up.
Maybe making money and getting out after fifth period sounds good to some.
Each office occupations' class has officers who help make the program function as an organization. The first period officers are Kathy Naruszewicz, president; Laurie Peterson, vice-president; Linda Ryan, secretary; and Pat Schmidt, treasurer. Second period officers include Mary Hutchingson, president; Debbie Fowler, vice‑president; Alan Snopek, secretary; and Bernadette Nuesslein as treasurer. All are seniors.
"Office occupations is a terrific program for students concerned with their future if they don't plan on a four‑year college or business school," Alan summed up.
Maybe making money and getting out after fifth period sounds good to some.