Masonry Magazine December 1999 Page. 14
trained 92 people in basic masonry construction skills. The seven-week course includes the use of hand tools, spreading mortar, basic block laying techniques, laying a lead, mortar materials, brick laying techniques, wall types, use of a level and mortar mixing. According to Lou Riedmann with Watkins Concrete Block Company, Inc., "We may not graduate a full-fledged mason, but students completing the course have shown a serious interest in a masonry career, do know the basics and are capable of making a positive contribution."
Asheville, North Carolina
The Career Education Center in Asheville, North Carolina maintains enrollment of 24 students in Level I and 12 students in Level II of their masonry program. The students are sent to the school from six area high schools.
Students at the school are provided with hands-on experience doing projects for local schools. Gary Conner, Masonry Instructor at the school, stated, "Because of the demand for masons in our area, the county maintenance department was having trouble finding masonry contractors that wanted to do small jobs for the school system. The masonry class has since started taking care of all the masonry projects, such as school signs, storage buildings, retaining walls, small additions, sidewalks, anything pertaining to masonry for the school system." In addition, students had the opportunity to build a Colonial Williamsburg blacksmith forge on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Asheville to be used for the International Conference of Blacksmiths. This project involved the ability to read detailed drawings, build two arches, construct a brick chimney and lay a large area of paving brick, giving the students plenty of hands-on experience.
Charlotte, North Carolina
The Bricklaying Training Program at Central Piedmont Community College is a one semester course. Within this semester, students learn basic skills including masonry tools and how to use them, job set-up, laying to the line, building walls, brick veneer, using corner poles and the use of a level. Additionally, students do one or two live projects in the area.
The major concern currently facing this program is the lack of support from area mason contractors. According to Preston B. Gist, masonry teacher, only a few contractors in the area hire students from the school. They are currently seeking more mason contractor involvement.
Clayton, Ohio
There are currently 23 students in the masonry program at Miami Valley Career Technology Center including 7 seniors and 16 juniors. Three of the seniors are enrolled in the school-to-work apprentice program approved by the Ohio Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. These students alternate between two weeks of academic and masonry classes and two weeks working full time for a mason contractor.
Enrollment continues to increase at the school. There are more students enrolled in the masonry program than in any previous year. Craig VanCulin, masonry instructor, attributes the local industry for this increase. Mr. VanCulin stated, "Industry is the reason, I believe, we have increased our enrollment. We have been supported by companies who have realized that we are training their future employees."
This year, students at the school have the opportunity to work on several projects in local communities. In one town, students have been contacted to design and lay brick pavers for the city sidewalks and in another, are working with a school to build a fire wall in one of its buildings. Next spring, students will be working with Habitat for Humanity laying a foundation for a house that the school's carpentry class is building.
Marietta, Ohio
Michael D. Davis, Masonry Instructor at the Washington County Career Center reports that they currently have 16 students enrolled in their masonry program. The students learn basic masonry skills including material preparation, laying brick and block, spreading mor-