Students Learn Hands-On Skills In Auto,

Graphics, And Photography Classes

By Andy Hutchison

Whether they are getting their hands dirty while working under the hood of a car, designing a printed flyer for an event, or getting a taste of bringing their digital photos to life on the computer, Newtown High School students have a variety of courses from which to choose as part of the school’s fine and applied arts courses.

In addition to the mainstream courses, hands-on electives classes put students in career-sampling environments, giving them a chance to see, firsthand, how some jobs are performed. Among the courses are power technology, auto, graphics tech, and photography, all opportunities for young learners with a variety of interests to pick and choose what they want to learn.

Steve George, also Newtown High’s football coach, teaches power technology and auto courses. The students first learn to overhaul lawn mowers, and then things get more complex with creation of moving robots in the power technology course. Those interested in moving on to Auto 1 and 2 work on anything and everything car-related.

An emphasis on tires, brakes, and under-car systems is taught in Auto 1. Auto 2 moves onto motors, electronics, and bodywork. Students interested in a third year of automobile-related work may take Advanced Auto, a student-run enterprise class.

The school has a small shop — a garage bay area and lifts — and the necessary tools to perform numerous tasks. They take in cars from teachers, or bring in their own, and do whatever is needed, from simple repairs to complete restorations. As the students get comfortable with what they are doing, Mr George takes less of role in working with the students except when they need pointers or assistance on a given project.

“It’s a very hands-on course toward the end of the year,” Mr George said.

Graphic Design

Graphics Tech 1 and 2, and a follow-up enterprise course, NHS Graphics, The Co., are all offered. Under the direction of teacher David DeFeo, students use computer programs Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign to first learn the basics of graphic design before moving on to advanced graphics work. In fact, the enterprise class is actually a small business run out of the classroom.

From tickets and flyers for functions at school events to T-shirts and business cards, students do work for various student organizations and community groups outside the school. They have even produced a wedding program for an NHS teacher.

In addition to learning about graphics, the students are getting a feel for what it is like to run a business.

“We love it. We’re busy and we’ve got things going on,” said Mr DeFeo, emphasizing that the students are not just doing projects for fun.

The class members even receive a small paycheck for their efforts. “It lets them know that their skills have value,” said Mr DeFeo, who also runs a summer camp for students in grades 5–8, introducing them to graphics.

Eye Of The Photographer

Photography teacher Steven Bamberg has a class of up-and-coming camera clickers learning that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to taking pictures. Mr Bamberg said looking through a viewfinder to snap a shot is one thing. To capture a unique feeling on an everyday subject matter, and utilizing composition is, as he put it, “to see beyond the superficial.” “Everybody looks but they don’t see,” he added.

An advanced photography course will be offered in the fall. The courses are digital-based now, after years of use of film and darkroom equipment, but Mr Bamberg is hopeful that his students will again have an opportunity to use enlargers and projectors to bring their images to life the way it used to be done.

Mr Bamberg also teaches a video production class in which students learn the basic techniques of recording and editing footage.

Even if students are not planning on becoming mechanics, graphic designers, or photographers, they can pick up useful skills that can help them in their futures.

“It’s a good learning experience. It’s a lot of common stuff you can use in life,” said Kyle Degenhardt, an auto class student, who comes to the classroom with some second-hand car maintenance experience since his brother, Andrew, is a mechanic.