Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Students of Douglas MacArthur Junior High School prepared for their futures, learning valuable skills and trades, Saturday morning at Men of MAC camp.
The event, hosted in collaboration with the Nu Tau Sigma grad chapter of Phi Beta Sigma and World Baptist Church, brought together local professionals to the Douglas MacArthur campus on Saturday, April 25, to teach students about potential career pathways and the skills needed to navigate daily life as adults.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the middle schoolers participated in 12 learning sessions. Those included electrical work, car maintenance, wound care, knife care, finance, hunting and fishing, and carpentry, as well as one-on-ones with a plumber, a physical therapist, a pilot, a barber, and members of the Jonesboro Police Department.
Students rotated in a round-robin every 25 minutes to ensure everyone had a chance to participate in each session. Breakfast was provided by Chick-fil-A, and snacks were offered to fuel students.
“Our school has been mulling over the ideas of how can we increase community involvement,” Franklin Teague, assistant principal of MacArthur Junior High School, said. “We decided that a strong male presence of positive influence would help transform our school culture. That’s when Men of MAC was formed. Soon after, we were able to foster more groups that created opportunities for more demographics.”
Talking with the professionals, students were able to ask questions and receive hands-on practice through projects and games.
“The most important takeaway is exposure,” Teague said. “Our kids can’t be it unless they see it. Quite frankly, a lot of these skills are not being taught in the home anymore, either. That’s why it’s so important for our boys to attend.”
Additionally, according to Teague, feedback from the district and community indicates a need for more practical training. He said, “The feedback was staggering with strong support for trade skills and other pathways to extend education.”
Another way Jonesboro Public Schools is ensuring students gain firsthand experience in trades is through its partnership with the Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center, which offers curriculum for local high school students in industries such as welding, construction, computer science, and automotive repair.
“For students interested in trade skills, I say explore your options early because the opportunity is there,” Teague said. “It’s happening right now in JPS schools.”
More information about the Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center can be found online at neactc.com.