New Program At Philadelphia High School Proves Manufacturing Is Not Dead
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Manufacturing isn't dead. It's just gone high-tech and a new center opening next month at Ben Franklin High School aims to teach modern manufacturing skills to students.
Workers are finishing construction on the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, on the lower level of Ben Franklin High. Classrooms for four disciplines: computer aided design, welding, precision machining and mechatronics to open this fall. Four more open next year.
David Kipphut, who heads the district's Office of Career and Technical Education, uses Tastykake as an example of the assembly line technology being taught.
"They only have bakers in their research and quality assurance labs. Everyone working out on the field is not a baker. They're all technicians."
400 students will begin this fall. Students in the Ben Franklin catchment get first dibs, the other slots doled out by lottery.
Kipphut says the district is negotiating with Community College of Philadelphia to use the manufacturing classrooms on nights and weekends.
Half of the funding for the $6 million center came from a grant from the Middleton Foundation.
