Date: Fri 12-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANN

Quick Words:

education-travel-tourism-Walsh

Full Text:

Travel And Tourism Course Gets School Bd Backing

(with cut)

BY ANN MARIE COHEN

Pat Walsh, an instructor and department chair for fine and applied arts at

Newtown High School, has proposed a new course to Board of Education entitled

Travel and Tourism. The school board approved the proposal at its meeting on

February 9.

The new course will be part of the School-to-Career series offered at the high

school. The travel and tourism course will be open to grades 11 and 12.

Students would earn one elective credit for one semester's work.

The School-to-Career program provides students with hands-on learning and

gives them a chance to explore career possibilities. The goal of the program

is to enable students to make informed decisions about their future careers.

Use of the Internet and the Sabre reservation system will be part of the

course. Pat Walsh sees this as an incentive for students, particularly girls,

to enroll in future computer courses. Because the use of the computer in the

travel and tourism course is less technical, she said, it will also be less

threatening to students.

Many major competency areas will be demonstrated and applied as they relate to

travel, according to Ms Walsh. Students will engage in activities that demand

an ability to handle all business communications in a professional manner.

They will need to be knowledgeable about travel products and be able to

effectively promote and sell their product, based on the needs of the

customer. Math skills will be integrated into the curriculum, Ms Walsh

explained. Students will calculate commissions pertinent to travel sales, work

out currency exchange rates and time zone differences.

Finally, the students will engage in career planning and personal management

skills. This includes producing a comprehensive resume, preparing a cover

letter and preparing for the job interview.

At the close of the presentation, Susan Hills concluded, "We are proud of your

work. You have opened so many avenues and opportunities for students to make a

living, should they decide to go on to college."