Jack Forestell, son of Michelle Dorey Forestell, had a little bit of an journey on ‘Take Our Kids to Work Day’ 2024. Picture by Michelle Dorey Forestell/Kingstonist.
Take Our Children to Work (TOKTW) Day occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, and Kingstonist had one scholar participant. Jack Forestell is a grade 9 scholar at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary Faculty in Kingston. He’s additionally my son. Right here’s what I discovered by taking him with me to work.
The concept behind this system is that Grade 9 college students spend the day on the office of a guardian, relative, buddy or volunteer host, witnessing first-hand the world of labor, prompting early profession planning, and enabling college students to make knowledgeable selections about their future objectives and endeavours.
Take Our Children to Work (TOKTW) Day started in 1994 as an initiative for college students within the Larger Toronto space. Developed by The Studying Partnership, a Canadian charitable group based in 1993 to assist public training by connecting college students, educators, enterprise leaders and authorities via experiential packages, the one-day initiative rapidly grew in reputation throughout the province and nation and is now celebrated nationally on the primary Wednesday of November.
The advantages appear apparent: the occasion additionally permits dad and mom to debate profession prospects with their kids. It permits workplaces to share data, expertise, and recommendation about training, profession decisions, and related abilities required of their business. It additionally helps expose children to real-life workplaces and professions firsthand as a substitute of the caricature workplaces of films, tv, and TikTok.
Furthermore, TOKTW permits college students to see what the world of labor is like for the adults of their lives. Supermom, for instance, is likely to be a mild-mannered reporter by day.
Whereas researching this story, I used to be shocked to study that the Limestone District Faculty Board now not participates in TOKTW. On November 1, 2024, they posted on their web site, “Limestone District School Board has not participated in Take Our Kids To Work (TOKTW) Day in recent years. This was a Provincial initiative that is no longer supported, which makes it difficult for LDSB to continue the program. We have not promoted the program within schools… If families have any additional questions about TOKTW Day, please reach out to your student(s)’ administration.”
My children all attended Holy Cross CSS, a part of the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District Faculty Board, which nonetheless actively promotes the annual one-day occasion.
Our TOKTW Day experiences
When my two older daughters have been in grade 9, they attended TOKTWD on the elementary college the place their dad, Invoice, teaches in Kingston. It was simple to see it had been an eye-opener. The women got here house with tales about how completely different Invoice was at work than he was at house. Each additionally got here away understanding they didn’t need to be academics (which is form of hilarious), however with a brand new appreciation of what academics do and the way tough and nerve-racking the job is. Being in a classroom as a scholar is way completely different than educating a classroom stuffed with primary-aged kids.
At these instances, I used to be pursuing a grasp’s degree at Queen’s after which working freelance on the tail finish of the pandemic, so I didn’t have a lot of a office to indicate them exterior my laptop computer.
So, as TOKTW 2024 approached, I used to be excited to indicate off my comparatively new function as Lead Reporter at Kingstonist to our youngest and solely boy, Jack. Our Editor-in-Chief Tori Stafford, agreed, and we started brainstorming how it will work.
I needed Jack to see mother was an expert with duties exterior the house. I additionally needed him to know higher why the information media is important to society. And, frankly, I additionally needed it to be “cool” (no matter that’s).
Jack is aware of I spend quite a lot of time reporting on crime. Police, legal professionals, judges, and criminally accused individuals; that is likely to be cool for a 14-year-old “bro” (as I’ve discovered the children now say). I hoped TOKTWD would fall throughout an thrilling trial so he may see what goes on in a courtroom.
It didn’t.
So, as a substitute, I reached out to Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre and organized to do a narrative about their want for a brand new aviary. As a reporter and mother, I’ve discovered that you would be able to’t go flawed with animals. Animals are “cool” by advantage of being superior.
I advised Jack what I had organized and was greeted by the standard cryptic 14-year-old response, “Alright.”
I advised him perhaps it will be neat for him to write down the story. “Oh. I didn’t think I’d have to do work,” he responded.
Oh boy.
When the morning arrived, I made a decision to cease beating across the bush and ask him what he thought my job was about. “You tell people about stuff,” he mentioned. I agreed, however requested him why I did that. “Because people can’t be everywhere all the time, and there are things they need to know about.” OK, higher.
This led to a dialogue concerning the completely different roles in my place and the way various tales require specialised approaches. Once we have been at Sandy Pines, for instance, we’d assist them share a narrative about what they’re doing with their charity work and the way individuals can assist.
Once I go to a breaking information occasion like a fireplace, I assist individuals perceive what occurred and what’s being finished to maintain individuals protected. I share necessary info from first responders, am a voice for the victims, and document the occasion for historical past — “for the record.”
A red-shouldered hawk relearning to belief his wings. Picture by Michelle Dorey Forestell/Kingstonist.
However, when I’m in a court docket case, I’m a silent observer, and I’m the eyes and ears of the general public citizen. I’m not allowed to take photos and am usually not allowed to document, so I must be as correct as doable about what I see and listen to as a result of I’m there as a conduit to the general public within the curiosity of justice.
My job usually includes asking questions on the general public’s behalf. My political reporting helps make sure that the assorted ranges of presidency are clear and accountable to taxpayers. My investigative journalism holds individuals in energy accountable for his or her actions.
Or, you realize no matter, bro.
I joke, however the concept Jack and others will develop up having a greater understanding of journalism makes me longing for the longer term, given the “fake news” and “enemy from within” nonsense we’ve been uncovered to for the final decade.
However this wasn’t about me; it was about Jack. I advised him he was chargeable for taking images and asking questions, and I’d maintain the recorder. Leah Birmingham, the Medical Director of Sandy Pines, could be very simple to work with, extraordinarily personable, and educated. I started interviewing her, however Leah quickly had him and asking his personal questions.
It struck me when she started speaking about fledgling birds studying to fly. She mentioned, “In the wild, bird parents will take their fledglings out on flights to show them different areas that are good feeding areas and good habitats.” The fledglings comply with alongside, mimicking the dad and mom. Because the fledgling begins to self-feed, the guardian will feed them much less and fewer, however they nonetheless be certain they’ve sufficient.
“They’re not really strong flyers yet,” she defined, “So they might be having a hard time hunting for insects, and the parents have to show their behaviour by demonstrating it.”
Additionally, when the fledglings go in numerous instructions, the dad and mom should hold monitor. “The parents are trying to stay on top of them. You know, they may not be around that one for several hours. They’re alone for periods of time that get longer and longer and longer until they just don’t need their parents anymore,” Birmingham defined.
My three fledglings are in school and grades 12 and 9. That’s a sophisticated brood to maintain on high of for mamma and pappa birds.
Only a turkey and her new greatest man. Picture by Michelle Dorey Forestell/Kingstonist.
“Can you tell me the dimensions of the new aviary you want to build?” Jack requested her.
Hah! That was the form of query I at all times neglect to ask and find yourself calling or emailing about after the actual fact. Nevertheless it made good sense; Jack has at all times had a significantly better spatial sense than me. He’s been constructing issues with precision and element since he acquired his first set of blocks, even an entire Iron Man swimsuit made solely out of my printer paper and duct tape when he was about 5.
I took the again seat in the remainder of the interview as a lot as I may.
One humorous side of our day was a feminine turkey who appeared to need to be Jack’s greatest buddy. She pecked and chittered at him and adopted him intently. He tried to disregard her, but it surely was arduous. At one level, he was taking cowl, and we have been all laughing.
“She never does that,” Birmingham mentioned with a chuckle.
Oh boy, I assumed to myself, is that this what comes subsequent?
Trying again via Jack’s images, I used to be struck by how a lot he noticed. There are animals in all places at Sandy Pines, and Jack captured all he may for posterity, a few of which I missed.
I gave him a fundamental thought of how you can lay out his story, which he spent a great portion of the day writing. When he gave it to me to edit, I admit there have been issues I assumed I’d have finished otherwise, and I needed to combat with myself to go away them as they have been.
(You’ll be able to learn Jack’s premier reporting on Sandy Pines’ want for a brand new aviary right here.)
Insights and conclusions
We mentioned my job, why I do it, and the way actual work isn’t all about fame, cash, or status.
“I’m on my second career; I don’t intend to be the lead anchor on the CBC or the next Keith Morrison,” I advised him, “but local journalism is important because it helps people better understand society, politics, and basically everything that is important.”
We talked about work-life steadiness and the way it’s important to do work you get pleasure from or at the very least can stay with. I’ve at all times cherished studying and now receives a commission to take action. I’ve an excessive amount of empathy and curiosity about what makes individuals do the issues they do. In my job, I meet individuals from all walks of life and share their tales.
I acquired to step again and be amazed at how grown up my son is. Even when he doesn’t comply with the identical path as me or his dad, he has a great sense of himself and may make good selections.
Not solely did he get to see me in motion at my profession, however Jack additionally discovered about Leah Birmingham’s profession and the group that works collectively at Kingstonist to carry a fully important product {of professional} high quality to our readers.
In 2022, The Studying Partnership ceased operations and handed stewardship of TOKTW and its different packages to 4 like-minded nationwide organizations. Now, underneath the auspices of The College students Fee of Canada (SCC), TOKTW noticed greater than 450,000 college students and 75,000 organizations take part this yr.
I usually finish my tales with a choose’s verdict. My verdict on TOKTW Day got here on the finish of Wednesday, when my son gave me a hug and a thanks. The true-world connections college students make on Take Our Children To Work Day are invaluable, as is the inter-generational publicity to work. The parental expertise gained is invaluable.
A few of Jack’s images — nothing evokes pictures like animals. Images by Jack Forestell.
