School construction program gets grant money
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For months, a group of high school students has been building a house on Planet Street in Rochester. It's become part of their school day, and they're learning exactly how things are done.
"The aspects of building a house, everything you need to learn. You learn it in the classroom and apply it out here," explained Edison Tech Student Montre Bradley.
"We had to make sure the measurements were correct, we had to make sure that the foundation was square. I helped put up the walls, nail them down, straighten them out," said student Trequanna Cooper.
The Get Ready for Life program teaches students the tricks of the trade. Monday, organizers were given a $35,000 check from the Monroe County Industrial Development Agency, which means the program will stay in the Rochester City School District, something they say needs to happen.
"It's worked great - I've seen these kids... everything you see these kids built," said associate teacher Charles Peaslee. "And I only can take credit for teaching them, but as far as their ability to learn, swing the hammer... that's something that's inside of them."
The students in the program worked on the house about 10-12 hours a week. In fact, much of the construction was completed in only a few months. And the important thing is when they leave school, they'll have experiences that most high school seniors can't say they've had.
"These guys could walk up to a job site and say look, I like to frame. Could I come work for you? They would come in there, they would know how to swing a hammer, they would know their studs have to be 16 inches on center," said Peaslee.
And for many of the students, the program opens doors, to a career in construction.
"I'm not old enough now, I'm only 17, but when I get old enough I want to apply for the carpenter's union, and hopefully do more stuff like this," said Cooper.