We're concerned with the dearth of trained machinists and the failure of schools to prepare young people for manufacturing jobs. As such, our company's founder Larry Taitel, has been addressing the situation locally, and he's penned an op ed (which just appeared at Converting Quarterly) discussing the situation and what can be done about it. We'd love to see more discussion of this issue, and greater involvement on everyone's part because this impacts all of us.

Here's a link to the original blog post:
air-chucks.blogspot.com/2015/11/manufact...bs-ours-to-lose.html

www.convertech.com

Larry's perspective is well worded. I completely agree. My husband just retired this year as a high school teacher and chair of the computer department. He feels similarly and was so glad to get out of the system as he felt it was definitely going in the wrong direction. He was responsible for the Microsoft MOS program at his school where kids could get nationally recognized certification in the Microsoft programs for Powerpoint, Word, Access, and Excel. At least when they graduated they could more easily get a job if they did not go to college. As for myself, I was also once a teacher and am now on the advisory board of a vocational school that's dedicated to training students to become flexographic printers (primary applications are for package printing). It's called DiTrolio Flexographic Institute in Broadview, IL. All of the students in this trade school are not college grads, but they are hard-working committed individuals with lives that require direction and opportunity to become successful at a job that pays good money for their talents across the nation. Thanks for sharing this information, Clifford. Also, see my recent blog post on the success enjoyed by some of DFI's students at: www.pffc-online.com/blog/yolanda/13190-d...al-students-sponsors