HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Amid the AI boom, two Pennsylvania lawmakers want to go back to a saw, some wood and a skilled pair of hands.
Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) and Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) said they plan to propose legislation that would require students in grades six through 12 to attend shop class.
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“Access to quality shop classes varies across school entities,” the lawmakers said in a co-sponsorship memo to colleagues. “This bill provides students with access to hands-on technical education regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status.”
If passed, schools would need to give students at least one unit of hands-on technical education. That could mean tool use, home repair, craftsmanship, machine safety, technical drawing, robotics and engineering.
“The legislation allows flexibility for districts to design programs meeting local needs,” the lawmakers said.
Even as industry embraces modernity with the expansion of data centers in the state, some lawmakers seem to be embracing tradition. Another piece of legislation proposed this week would offer a hunter education program as an optional extracurricular class for students.
Pennsylvania bill would require recess for high school students
In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) used his best penmanship to sign a bill into law that required all Pennsylvania students to learn cursive. That’ll kick in next school year.
The governor has also pushed lawmakers to pass a ban on cellphones in schools. The Senate passed a bill to do that last month, which the House is now considering.
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