The ASE Education Foundation welcomed Bogi Lateiner to the ASE Instructor's Conference as she presented her speech, "Revving up the Diversity: Shaping an Inclusive Future in Auto Repair High School and College Shop Programs." The speech focused on how to develop new initiatives to create a culture of inclusiveness in schools and the workplace.
Lateiner's presentation started with a role-play featuring two male instructors as an automotive instructor and female student. The female student was trying to talk her way into an automotive course while the instructor was trying to talk her out of it. The goal was to show how hard it can be for female students to be accepted into an automotive, collision, or truck program.
"Often viewed as sensitive, the younger generation is not necessarily sensitive, but asks for what they want and need," said Lateiner. "In this hiring environment, employees have more power. Asking to be treated with respect, to be trained and provided with a career path while working in a collaborative environment isn't being sensitive. It's what every employee should have. Change starts with the instructors. They have the power to create and set the expectation of a good work environment that their students can then take to the workplace."
Some of the key points Lateiner emphasized in working with both male and female students included:
- Treat them the same. Have the same expectations of work to be accomplished and knowledge to be gained. Do not "dumb down" skills for female students because of perceived strengths or knowledge differences.
- Do not compare. Don't tell the male students that the female students are showing them up. Comments like that create more of a distance between male and female students and place unreasonable expectations on female students.
- Create an inviting environment for everyone. Lateiner's spent a large part of her presentations talking about the "automotive club." As she explained it, "We are the club...that nobody wants to be a part of it. That needs to change if we want to solve the technician shortage."
"We want to thank Bogi for providing such an interesting and inspiring presentation," said Mike Coley, president of the ASE Education Foundation. "Instructors have incredible influence on students. Helping instructors create an inclusive environment for both male and female students attracts more and better students which translates into more entry-level technicians."
