OWE!

O.W.E. Occupational Work Experience. Not a well known program in our schools but one which has served hundreds of students over the past 40 years and continues to be a lifesaver for many.
OWE is a program of the Washington County Career Center that operates in the Marietta City Schools buildings. Its intent is to help students graduate. Students who may drop from school early. Students who, but for this program may never graduate.
The program helps these students gain valuable work and life experience and enables them to earn money while doing so. It provides an environment tailored to the student’s needs.
To be in the program, students must have a job and work or volunteer at least 15 hours per week during at least 3 school days. It requires parental or guardian permission and access to transportation to and from work.
Typically a student spends two periods in the main high school building followed by two periods in the OWE class located in the Vocational Agriculture building, followed by work on the job.
English course credits can be earned in the OWE classes and there is access via computers to a service called NovaNet where virtually any high school credit except gym may be earned. The goal is to gather enough credits to earn a diploma.
There is no such thing as a “typical” OWE student. Some have plenty of credits but their life circumstances or personality just don’t fit a regular school and classroom day. They may be in danger of leaving school just because school is not meeting their needs.
Others may be struggling to keep up in the classroom and need the extra help a smaller class size can provide. They may also have social skill needs that a classroom cannot provide.
Then there are those whose life circumstances present a real challenge that requires some adaptation. On average, an OWE class consist of 30% students who are also parents. Some are living on their own providing rent and food for themselves. Others are contributing to their family’s income to make ends meet.
Over the years many local employers have provided jobs and training and supervisory personnel to help these students. Admittedly, it is a mutually beneficial relationship. Often the students stay on with the employer and make fine long term employees.
For the student not headed for college OWE can be the perfect first step into the workforce. It can also lead to some of the best management training available as most of the employers have excellent programs. One can literally go from flipping burgers to a great entrepreneurial opportunity thanks to the training available.
Local employers have included Arby’s, Burger King, Captain D’s, Chartwell’s, East of Chicago, Influent, Izzy’s at Marietta College, Krogers, Little Caesar’s, McDonald’s, Ohio Valley Marine, ResCare, Ryans, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Zimmerview Farms.
An extensive advisory committee and many volunteers keep the program operating and in touch with employers. Names too numerous to mention have been serving for many years.
Lest one think that the course work is less challenging, here’s the assignment the most recent day I visited. Prepare a presentation about a musical artist. Pick a song, discuss the lyrics, their meaning and interpretation.
Discuss the value of the rhyming in the lyrics, the importance of the beat and rhythm and their contributions to the overall experience. Point out similes, metaphors, figurative language, alliteration and hyperbole and other linguistic characteristics the artist employed to make the song relevant and of interest.
Create a presentation board with photos, graphics, and other items that will engage the reader. Ahem.