Minister Takes Nephew to Work

A Grade 9 student from Truro Junior High School is finding out what it's like to be a cabinet minister today, Nov. 5.

Bruce Muir is spending Take Our Kids to Work Day with his uncle, Education Minister Jamie Muir. Bruce is one of 11,000 Grade 9 students from more than 100 Nova Scotia schools learning about the world of work by job-shadowing a parent, friend, relative or volunteer host.

"Grade 9 students have important decisions to make about the high school courses they need to take to pursue a particular career, or to keep their options open," said the minister. "Take Our Kids to Work Day gets students thinking about these decisions, and I'm pleased to help my nephew, Bruce, prepare to make his."

Bruce Muir is president of his school's student council. He chose to visit his uncle's workplace to learn more about the job of a politician.

"I want to see what my uncle Jamie's job is like and find out why he likes it," he said. "Take Our Kids to Work Day gives me a chance to do that, and will help me make decisions about my future."

The national program is ideal for Nova Scotia's Grade 9 students since the provincial curriculum includes career education at that level. Students also make course selections in Grade 9 for the following year that could have an impact on their futures.

Grade 9 students in Nova Scotia also receive a Career Options guidebook that helps them understand the importance of choosing the right education for the career they want to pursue. It encourages them to use the Career Options handbook, which outlines various occupations and the training required for them. The handbooks are available through junior and senior high school principals and guidance counsellors, and online at http://careeroptions.ednet.ns.ca .

As the provincial sponsor of Take Our Kids to Work Day, the Department of Education co-ordinates school participation and provides training and resources. Teachers spend considerable time in the classroom before the day, preparing the students and helping them make the most of it. The following day, students are encouraged to assess and reflect on their experiences as part of an educational unit on careers.

Take Our Kids to Work was launched in 1994, and has been a national program since 1998.