Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 05/99) - Parents and guardians of Yellowknife students were visited at their worksite by a curious mob on Wednesday.

About 160 Grade 9 students from Sir John Franklin and 100 from St. Patrick high schools took the day off to see what adults do on the job, thanks to the Take Our Kids to Work project.

Classrooms from across Canada participated in the project that is co-ordinated by The Learning Partnership, a national non-profit agency.

Kevin White is the clinical co-ordinator in Stanton Regional Hospital's operating room. He put a group of kids in scrubs and gave them an inside look at an operating room.

"We showed them how to take blood pressure readings, how to check oxygen levels and how to perform a basic surgical stitch," said White.

"It was fun taking the kids through because it allowed me to see the job through their eyes. It made me realize that sometimes, we take for granted what we do."

Sir John Franklin student Andrew Harbicht has a mother who works in surgical day care at the hospital.

"Surgical day care is a place where people go to get ready for surgery and it's where they end up after the surgery," said Harbicht.

"Today was pretty cool -- we saw all the gadgets and how they use everything so I learned a lot. Later, at home, I'll talk to my mom about all the stuff I saw."

For St. Patrick student Diana Craig, whose mother works as an operating room aid, being an observer at the hospital was an eye-opening experience.

"I used to always wonder what my mom did at work so now I have a pretty good idea," said Craig.

"She helps patients in the OR and she assists her co-workers, so she's really important. I'm very proud of her."

Sir John Franklin teacher Lenore deJong helped co-ordinate her school's effort. In all, more than 100 local businesses allowed students to visit.

"I think it's important for the kids to get out in the real world and see what their parents do all day," said deJong.

"The exercise improves communication between the parent and the child and we hope makes them see how valuable an education is to their future."