Not in Timothy McLellan's manufacturing class at Westerly High School. Wearing protective eyewear and heavy gloves, a dozen ninth-graders carefully pour molten pewter into rubber casts and then wait for the results.
Not one student was staring out the window. They were engaged. They were working in small groups. And they were sharing their results.
"This is sick," said Mark Gervasini as he watched the pour. "I feel like I'm Iron Man!"
Welcome to P-TECH, the 2.0 version of career and technical education in which high school students earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree in a specialized field — free of charge. Students in the program can graduate from high school in four years, or, if necessary, five or six years. When they do, they should be prepared to apply for an entry-level job in several high-demand fields.
This year, three school districts — Westerly, Providence and Newport — piloted the program, financed by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation with a $600,000 grant. In Newport, students focus on cybersecurity and defense. In Providence, students can earn an associate's degree in information technology.
In Westerly, sixteen students began training this year in advanced manufacturing, which will ultimately lead to an associate's degree in manufacturing technology.
In the fall, P-TECH plans to add schools in Woonsocket and North Providence, with the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School in Lincoln coming on board later in the year.
P-TECH — which stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School — was launched in 2011 in New York City as a collaboration between the education department, City University of New York and IBM. The program has since expanded to include eight schools in New York and Chicago.
What's unique about this career and technical education program is that districts partner with local industries, who not only help shape the curriculum but provide mentors, who offer students adult support and guidance.
In Westerly, Electric Boat, which makes submarines, is the industry partner.
"It's essential that we provide employers such as Electric Boat with a qualified workforce," said Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor. "It's also crucial that we provide employment opportunities to our young people. This program fulfills both goals."
Students, who apply in eighth grade, stay in the same group throughout high school, which builds both camaraderie and a commitment to finish the program.
Here's what's different about this career and tech strand: Instead of sitting in classrooms, P-TECH students study math and English online, which allows them to advance at their own pace. In a math class last week, it looked like two students were goofing off. In fact, one student was helping another with a math problem.
"This is better, because you can go fast or slow," said Stephen Falck, who wants to become an architect. "This is going to help me get to my goal faster."
Students take classes at the high school and at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, which offers an associate's degree in manufacturing technology.
Back in class, McLellan, a former machinist, understands the importance of connecting theory ("What is the melting point of pewter?") with practice ("You have to clamp the mold just so, then tap it to even out the molten metal").
By the time students earn their associate's degree, McLellan said, they will be familiar with every aspect of manufacturing, from design to marketing, from programming machinery to working with precision instruments.
"I love how personalized this is," said ninth-grader Kaylee Coon, who is contemplating a medical career. "It's way more hands-on. I love it here."
Only three girls are in this year's P-TECH class. Assistant Supt. Alicia Storey says the district has to work much harder to sell P-TECH to young women.
In Providence, which has enrolled 45 students this year, the industry partners are FM Global, United Natural Foods and the Tech Collective, a hub for Rhode Island's technology community. Students who apply are evaluated based on their grades, attendance and an essay.
Jodi Anthony, Providence's P-TECH director, said the program is all about getting students enthusiastic about good-paying jobs in real-world industries.
"We've taken them places that showcase how technology is being used," she said. "It's about having conversations about the future."
"It opens up a world of possibilities for them," he said. "Here they are at 14, taking steps that will have a big effect on their futures,"
©2017 The Providence Journal (Providence, R.I.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
