In just a few days, students will be registering for classes, deciding what they will be taking next year, and takingsteps to prepare for graduation. In order to help students with this, Guidance has initiated programs and classes to help with this, including a new engineering class, Principle of Engineering.

The Principles of Engineering class is the second step of a four part process to phase into the school a more rigorous engineering program. Studies have shown that with in the next 10 years, there will be an expected shortage of engineers in the U.S., a problem that Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is trying to solve. In the next three years, the Guidance Department will be offering three new engineering classes (a new one each year), as part of a program approved by the Board of Education last year. After next year’s addition, the 2012-2013 year will see the addition of Digital Electronics. By the 2012-2013 school year, the Francis Howell School District will be one of a handful in the area, along with the Rockwood and Parkway districts to offer such a program.

“They’re definitely a good idea,” Guidance counselor Tom Daugherty said. “There is going to be a shortage of engineers, and it brings a focus on math and science.”

Among students at North, the program has, thus far, been received well, sparking interest for the new classes in the coming years. Junior Mack Weaver, who is currently taking the Introduction to Engineering class, sees the new classes as a great opportunity and suggests them for engineering prospects.

“I’m sure it helps people who want to go into engineering,” Weaver said. “It’ll build on skills and let us do more.”

By Kevin Beerman