02
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23RD ROTARY
CAREER
SYMPOSIUM
A
nd doing that means getting students to start think-
ing about what kind of career they'd like to pursue
as early as possible.
"We start promoting career readiness as early
as Kindergarten," says Stargardter, a career development
consultant for Manitoba Education who's worked in the field
for 27 years. "It's a totally different approach."
That approach — getting kids interested in a specific ca-
reer sooner — involves developing self-awareness the mo-
ment a child sets foot in a classroom.
"We've written a curriculum in conjunction with 37
schools, career co-ordinators and teachers that's infused in
all subject areas," she says. "It gets kids to ask questions
like, 'who am I?', 'where's my place in the world?', 'what
are my interests and skills?' and 'what does it mean to be
employed?' These questions can be answered in every one
of their classes."
There's a primary reason why it's necessary to get kids
thinking about a career as quickly as possible: the increasing
complexity of the work world.
With so many opportunities available in an ever-expand-
As Manitoba Education's Ruth Stargardter sees it,
it's her job to help school-aged kids get career-ready.
Thinking about careers early
BY TODD LEWYS
Ruth Stargardter (left),
Manitoba Education career
development consultant,
and Jackie Knight, Manitoba
Education technology
consultant.
Photo
by
Jason
Halstead
