TanaSeybert’s Joseph Hoffman and Gil Celli (second and third from left) with some of their student interns from GCA.
Preparing graduating students for jobs is the mission of career and technical education (CTE) programs at the High School of Graphic Communication Arts (GCA), the New York City public school system’s center for secondary education in print and graphics.
On Feb. 13, the school capped its celebration of “CTE Week” by honoring metro area companies and organizations that have sponsored internships for GCA students. Also noted was the progress being made in a union-sponsored pre-apprenticeship program designed to accelerate career paths for GCA graduates.
By hosting GCA students in work-study programs, shops represented by Local One of Amalgamated Lithographers of America and Local 51 of the Graphic Communications Conference/International Brotherhood of Teamsters give a head start on apprenticeships that lead to jobs later on. New York State’s labor and education departments have been asked to let students credit time spent in these programs toward formal apprenticeships. That approval is expected next year, said Robert Davi, director of education for Local One.
“The goal is to get kids into jobs,” said Davi of the pre-apprenticeship program, which involves Saturday as well as after-school work assignments for participating students. “It’s about keeping the middle class the middle class.” He praised Patrick LoPresti, president of Local One, for his support of the program.
Robert Davi (holding certificate), director of education for Local One of Amalgamated Lithographers of America, announced that his union and another local have created a pre-apprenticeship program for GCA students.
Providers of internships honored at GCA on Feb. 13 included TanaSeybert, a leading commercial printing firm with plants in Manhattan and New Jersey; HarlemLive, a not-for-profit media training program for New York City teens; The Fund for Modern Courts, a judicial advocacy group; and 13 other public and private organizations.
Work-based learning programs at GCA are under the direction of Jack Kott, a veteran printer and engraver who has spearheaded many initiatives for printing education in New York City. He thanked Jerod Resnick, principal of GCA, for his support of career-building programs at the school.
Located on West 49th Street, GCA is the present incarnation of the historic New York School of Printing, a training ground for generations of print professionals in New York City. GCA is the only school in New York State, and one of only two on the East Coast, to hold state certification as a printing school as well as accreditation by the PrintEd® industry-standard certification program.
In addition to printing, the school offers study programs in photography, commercial art, media and journalism, and law. Complete information is available at the school’s web site.
Discussion
By robert ivan on Feb 15, 2009
“The goal is to get kids into jobs,”
What is the placement rate?
What is the long term outlook for these kids?
By Michael Josefowicz on Feb 15, 2009
Don't know about this school, but it would be good to know what happens to every kid that goes to community and technical college what they are doing 3 years and 5 years out.
By George Alexander on Feb 16, 2009
I agree with the concerns of Robert and Michael. It is important to be sure that these students are being trained for jobs they can actually get, once they graduate.
The school has an extensive web site, but it contains little or no information about how many students are studying which subjects. I hope students are being encouraged to go into primarily the computer, web, and design areas of the graphic arts, because those being trained as printers may have a tough time getting work.
Recent government data shows that a third of production jobs in our industry have disappeared over the last ten years, and that trend is accelerating at the moment. (Details on that trend, and an editorial, are posted at www.beyond-print.net.) It is a disservice to our young people to train them for jobs in a shrinking market that already has an oversupply of available, experienced workers.
By Stephen G. on Feb 16, 2009
I am a grad of the "historic" NYSP in 1973. For the student to be successful after graduation they have to follow thru. Dont expect jobs to come to them just because they have a skill set in printing. Get that AAS or BS in Business, Print Management. Even go part time to get credit hours. Show interest in your work, show up on time ready to work. You may start near the bottom but will advance fast.
By Frank Sclafani on Feb 27, 2009
I graduated in 1966 and I am a VP of Manufacturing in the printing industry. There are many of us who continued in the business and have had great success because of this school. But as I understand it now there is no entrance exams and students are put there to meet quotas. If a student does not want to be there he and the school will not succeed.
By Michael Josefowicz on Feb 27, 2009
Frank,
Your point about motivation is exactly right. The trick is that if the schools took advantage of the all best thinking and available tech, the motivation is exactly what they could create, or more to the point, find and nurture in each student.
Discussion
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