NATCHEZ — Fallin Career and Technology Center recently reincorporated a hands-on learning program for students enrolled in early childhood education classes by allowing pre-kindergarten and head-start students to interact with high schoolers at the FCTC facility.

“The hands-on learning part has not been in operation for a minute, so this school-year we’re bringing it back,” said Sanita Gutter, early childhood education teacher.

In the two-year course, students learn about childcare, child development and how to create fun and educational environments that are safe for young children, Gutter said.

“We have 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students,” Gutter said. “Their first year is mainly instructional and the second year they take what they’ve learned and apply it while working with smaller kids.”

Yolanda Myles, assistant director at FCTC, said the daycare portion of the program was brought back to campus near the end of August for the first time in two years.

A room of FCTC had been reverted into a daycare center as well as a teaching environment for high school students who take turns reading, playing and supervising the younger children with guidance from their instructors.

“I like being in this class because I like working with children,” said Di’Yonna Williams, an FCTC student. “I really want to do a lot when I’m older and want to continue working with younger children.”

Tyra Coach, another student in the course, said the daycare aspect of the class helps her better understand the dos and don’ts of interacting with children that are between 2 and 5 years old.

“When you’re involved with kids, you learn what works and what doesn’t — what to do and what not to do,” Coach said.