Getting an early start
Angelique Flores
Students walked from booth to booth learning about a wealth of career
choices at Golden West College last week.
They watched a puppet show by nurses, hopped in a police car and
picked up soccer ball yo-yos from IBM recruiters before settling down for
a lunch of peanut butter sandwiches.
No, they weren’t college students -- they were visiting
kindergarteners.
Golden West College held its seventh annual KinderCaminata on Friday,
where about 1,200 kindergartners from around the county filled the main
quad.
The one-day program was designed to introduce kindergartners to
community college campuses and to demonstrate how higher education can be
a key component in their futures.
“College is a place for them to go, and the earlier you get started
teaching that to [the children], then it’s not so intimidating for them,”
said Golden West President Kenneth Yglesias.
“Kinder” is German for child and “caminata” is Spanish for walk. The
event is held annually at six Orange County community colleges on or near
Cesar Chavez’s birth date, March 31. The late civil rights leader formed
the United Farm Workers of America union and courageously fought for the
principles of social justice and respect for human dignity.
“[KinderCaminata] is related to Cesar Chavez and his goal that
education and equality is important,” said college spokeswoman Marie
McHerrin.
The outreach event, aimed at socioeconomically deprived youngsters and
their families, is intended to break down barriers, helping them
understand the value of higher education and the resources and
opportunities available to them. Plenty of parents accompanied their
children’s classes.
“Children of color don’t always get these opportunities, and parents
need to teach their kids the value of education,” McHerrin said.
The quad was dotted with tables manned by local military recruiters,
lifeguards, postal workers, zoologists, college athletes and others with
college and career information. The booths included hands-on activities
and information to take home. Students also enjoyed entertainment by
Orange Coast College’s dance instructor Jose Acosta and his dance troupe.
“It’s good for them to learn early on what college is and what it
takes to get here,” said College View Elementary School teacher Ashley
Archer, who has been attending the event with her class for the past
several years.
State legislation has established Cesar Chavez Day as an official
state holiday in honor of the Hispanic labor leader’s life and work.
The California Department of Education plans to develop a model
curriculum on the life and work of Chavez to be adopted by the State
Board of Education and taught in schools all over the state.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
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