‘The Company’ teaches skills for work place

Brad Billington is planning a dream vacation on Butte High School’s computers, with the blessing of his teacher.

However, it’s an excursion Billington will never take. That’s because planning the trip is part of a module in a class where Butte’s future workers learn skills to become part of the workforce.

Stories by Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/07/26/featuresbigskylife/hjjfjchfhgiehi.txt

Billington is part of "The Company," a class devoted to teaching both soft skills, such as how to get along with co-workers and greet clients, to hard skills, like creating spreadsheets, filing, banking and planning the perfect business trip.

The company is even set up like a business with a receptionist’s desk — workers are required to call in if they are sick — time clock, work stations and coffee breaks.

The objective, said teacher LoraLee Beatty, is to simulate the real world of work for students. And in Beatty’s class it doesn’t matter if you are an A student or not, since students are graded on their performance and demeanor as much as their work.

"Some are A students, but I wouldn’t rehire them," Beatty said. And students who may have struggled in traditional classes can soar in Beatty’s class.

The class is patterned off a national education trend, to respond to complaints that workers are unprepared for the business world, something that is vital to the economy. It is also close to Beatty’s heart because she firmly believes in preparing students for the real world.

"This is for any student whether they are college bound or not, whether they are an A student or not, they are all going to go into the workforce," she said.

Learning to be a good employee is as crucial as learning to work a spreadsheet, she said. A renewed emphasis on so-called "soft-skills" is returning to business classrooms all over the nation. Soft skills are not ingrained, as some people believe. For example, The Company works on students’ work ethics and professionalism and takes the time for even basic skills, such as how to tie a necktie or behave at a business dinner.

Beatty’s students fill out goal sheets with personal and academic goals, which she finds invaluable in charting progress. "This year I’ve really connected with my students and I’ve gotten to know them," she said.

Butte’s business community is also involved in The Company. Speakers address students about career issues and students job-shadow adults in the Butte workforce. Students are also a part of Toastmasters, where they learn to speak in front of others. This builds confidence and communication skills.

"Toastmasters has helped me a lot," said Billington, saying the skills have helped him with his part-time job as a delivery driver for a local restaurant. He added that work modules on loans, banking and checking have helped him personally to decipher the sometimes complicated world of personal and business finance.

For fellow Company member Alan Flink, 16, the class turned out to be a pleasant surprise. As a transfer student late last school year, the then-sophomore took the class because it fit in his schedule.

"I think it is a pretty neat class," said Flink, who admits to an aversion to typing, but said the class’ emphasis on people skills will help him to get a job. "Miss Beatty is a good teacher … she’s very stern," he added.

For Beatty, that is praise since she has worked hard to create a professional atmosphere in a classroom, teaching students how to get and more importantly, keep, a job.

"We know how hard it is to get good employees," Beatty said. "I’m real passionate about it."