ODSS COSMETOLOGY STUDENTS hone their skills as part of a school board initiative to prepare students for the future through real-life situations. There is a perception of the segment of the population known as Generation Y.

Those young Canadians, who range in age from teenagers to those 20 somethings, are seen as a relatively satisfied lot that is sitting back and waiting to grab its slice of the pie once the baby boomers- the only demographic segment of the population larger than theirs- retire.

Arecent global survey of the Gen Yers tells a different story, however... particularly in Canada.

It says that close to 24 per cent of the country's Generation Y crowd feels that it's over qualified for the positions it has attained in life. The youths are highly educated, but underemployed.

Drop into any bar and there's a distinct possibility that your server or your bartender has a bachelor's degree, perhaps a Masters or a PhD, sitting in the dresser drawer at his or her studio apartment.

To alleviate this problem and to help young people attain a clearer picture of where they can go and succeed in the world, the Upper Grand District School Board is placing a stronger emphasis on the concept of cooperative student placement in the work place.

It's a program that's been in place for close to 30 years, but has not necessarily received the attention it deserves.

An example of the board's commitment to providing students with viable career paths is the highly successful cosmetology course at Orangeville District Secondary School.

The course, which has an emphasis on hair design, has attracted 75 students already and will be expanded next year to accommodate demand.

"It addresses a need of the economy," figures Gerry Holden, a co-op teacher at ODSS. "There is, and there's going to be, a huge need for people in the personal services field."

The course, taught by Robert Mayer of Guelph, is held in a room that has all the amenities of a conventional salon, from chairs and sinks to hair-dressing mannequins.

And it's not the only field the coop program is addressing.

"We feel the need for people will be in the service industry and definitely in all the trades," figures Mr. Holden. In Orangeville, co-op students have been placed in auto garages, machine shops, restaurant kitchens, and on construction sites.

If figures released last year by the U.S. Department of Labour are anywhere close to try, the need for skilled trades people is dire. The agency says that, by 2010, close to 70 million tradesmen

will be leaving the North American labour force via retirement.

It also says that there will be a few as 40 million coming up the ranks to replace them.

A major reason for this shortfall is a perception that young, intelligent people should automatically go the university route. "Those perceptions are difficult to change," admits Mr. Holden. "Our job is to help people realize there is a need for skilled trades, and our job is to educate the community on the value of them."

On the bright side, it's apparent that if any generation can have a firm grasp on reality in the world today, it would more than likely be the Generation Y crowd. Being that way, the generation is also looking for ways of education that deviate from the traditional norm.

"Today's students require different motivational tools," figures Mr. Holden. "They have higher expectations and are willing to work towards them.

"They know more. They are more worldly. They realize we are in a highly-skilled, highlyeducated society."

As for the community response to the board's efforts to implement the co-op program, Mr. Holden could hardly be more happy.

He says that there has been more than one instance where the relationship between student and employer has transcended being just that of pupil and instructor.

Some business establishments have even taken on as many as five students at a time and, once those students have completed their course, they have been eager to take on more.

"Some employers have been with us more than 20 years," Mr. Holden points out. "They have become more than just teachers. They've been mentors to the kids at so many levels."