Grade 9 Carlton Comprehensive High School student Nicolas Koppelaar scratches the top of the glass, after which he will snap it apart with his hands, during take your kid to work day at Ben’s Auto Glass. Herald photo by Tessa Holloway

The garage at Ben's Auto Glass isn't your average classroom, but along with workplaces across the city it was transformed on Wednesday.

Instead of textbooks, Grade 9 Carlton Comprehensive High School student Nicolas Koppelaar learned from glass-cutters and windshield extraction tools, while his teacher was his own dad, Dave, as well as Dave's co-workers.

Leaning over a car windshield, shop foreman Mike Coakwell guided Nicolas's hands as he drilled into the windshield of a car where a chip has cracked the glass.

After drilling, he carefully tapped the hole with a knife, then applied a tool that injects resin into the glass.

Moments later, the crack is nearly invisible.

"That's it. You just fixed a windshield crack," said Coakwell.

Nicolas just smiled. "That's cool," he said. "It's a lot more hands-on, rather than just watching. I think it's more fun."

While this is Nicolas's first day working many of the tools here, across the street at Ashly Cabinets and Windows, Grade 9 St. Mary High School student Gabby St. Amand already knows the ropes at the front desk. But on Wednesday, she got a peek behind the scenes.

She worked for her dad Mike St. Amand, co-owner of the business, all summer.

On Wednesday, however, she went to Saskatoon with her dad as he met with customers, and she saw how the business is run. Working with the customers was her favourite part.

"It's cool dealing with adults and helping them with their problems. It's different than school and dealing with those problems," she said, before her dad chimed in.

"You're a student, but you're dealing with an adult and they're looking to you," he said.

He praised the program, which his son also went through, saying it helps build communication and work skills among the students, as well as letting them learn what working life is about.

"She gets to see what her dad does in the day, that I don't have my feet on the desk the whole time," he said with a laugh.

tholloway@paherald.sk.ca