These teens are learning to catalog priceless works of art — but it’s the experience that is invaluable.
Students from Grover Cleveland High School are working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art to create the framework for a mock database to inventory paintings, statues and other objects in the American Wing of the New York institution.
“Being that we have the skills at such a young age is going to give us better opportunities for the future,” said Cezer Hernandez, 16, of Bushwick, an aspiring graphic designer who has the moxie to match his know-how. “It gives us an advantage.”
The juniors — budding computer whizzes at the high school in Ridgewood — plan to present their inventory database and other group projects at the museum next month.
“They’re creating the format the data would fit into,” said computer science teacher Andrew Woodbridge. “It’s preparing them for careers and giving them the skills they need to be successful.
His class toured the wing of the museum earlier this month and quizzed staff about the roughly 21,000 pieces in the collection and on loan.
The city had planned to close the struggling school in 2012 — but gave it a last-minute reprieve.
Woodbridge, who teaches seniors how to create smart phone apps, reached out to dozens of organizations to find opportunities for his students to get some “real world” experience before the Met gave him the green light.
“It was really exciting to see such bright and enthusiastic kids,” said Leela Outcalt, collections manager for the museum’s American Wing. “I’m concerned they’ll be my boss in six years.”
Students said they were a fan of the museum — and the project.
“I like the fact that we get to go out there [and] meet people,” said Marcus De Leon, 16, of Ridgewood. “It’s sort of like a puzzle connecting objects with other objects and [figuring out] how they relate to each other.”
Jukay Hsu, founder of the tech advocacy group Coalition for Queens, said he hopes the experience will encourage these students to pursue computer science or tech-related careers.
“It’s great that they can understand that learning code and tech is just a way for solving real-world problems,” Hsu said. “They can use those same skills and concepts and apply them to whatever they want to do in the future.”