Going Home: Milwaukee School Trains Next Generation of Tech Workers
ABC's Bill Weir visits a high school focusing on math, science and technology.
Sept. 30, 2010— -- Like many cities in the Midwest, Milwaukee has seen its economy change as manufacturing jobs have shifted elsewhere.
When ABC's Bill Weir was growing up in the city's Berryland neighborhood, a union card was the definition of job security. Those days are long gone, as Weir discovered on his recent trip back to his hometown for the week-long "Going Home" series on "ABC World News."
Earlier this year, even the city's most famous brand -- Harley-Davidson -- threatened to stop manufacturing in Wisconsin if it was unable to cut labor costs.
But even as manufacturing workers struggle in the down economy, an innovative Milwaukee school is taking steps to give the next generation of workers a better chance by focusing on the skills that will help them get good jobs in a changing world.
The Bradley Technology and Trade School is a high school where students focus extensively on math and science. Instead of just learning math from a textbook, Bradley Tech students engage with the information and see how equations can translate into real-world engineering projects.
Teachers and administrators at Bradley Tech think that the success at their program can give hope to the whole Milwaukee community. A vast majority of the kids who go through the program stay in Wisconsin, and some still hope to make their careers at Harley-Davidson.
Weir visited Bradley Tech as part of today's Conversation. We hope you'll watch.
