The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-08-08
EDUCATION OF MECHANICS.

l. VALLEY vlKNaIN1AN.o
i EDUCATION OF MECHANICS.
The progress. of mechanics, not only in tn
4 science Of their own CEILING, bn, in genera
education, is noticeable. They are far i,
advance of tho mechanics Of thirty years ag,
There are many of the old mechanics who
c,nnot write their names. We doubt wheth.
err twenty years hence. you would be able te
find mechanic twenty years Of age, who
could not write his name well and show ia
miliarity with all the rules of arithmetic il
not mathematics. Our free school system
when it is fairly developed, and its operation
broadened in correspondence with the idea
that underies it, will greatly facilitate the
diffusion Of educational advantages. To self
defence, our mechanics must seek d higher
grade of education. The progressive char
actor Of their occupations demands it. They
must either aim to be master workm men, or be
co0tented to be .4heweFs Of wood and drawers
of water" There are many good men, and
very good pushers Of the. jack plane, who
would have been first class .'bosses,'' had
their minds been trained BY early education.
They themselves feel the great draw back,
incident to deficient education They
will endeayor to save their children this NOR
ti6cation and disadvantage in the great life
struggle.
The followingartiele, from the Inter- Oceap
published 10 Chicago, is so well tuned and 80
completely bears upon the point, that We en-
darse it as an expression Of our own views on
the subject Of the improved condition Of me-
chanics:
"Tne labo'ing paople Of this couatry appear
to be slowly hut surely approaching condi-
tioa of comfort, not to say ease. The gradu
al reduction of the hours Of labor from twelve
TO ten. and from ten to eight, which was rep-
dered possible by the extensive introduction
of improved machinery, has left ample leisure
TO workingtnen to be devoted to the eultiya-
ton Of the intellectual faculties; aud the sur,
advance in information aud culture made by
that class demonstrates that it has probably
employed the hours 50 reserved from labor ia
such pursuits. It is idle to suppose that the
reduction Of the hours Of labor has been
brought about solely by the organized elforts
of workingmen themselves. The antagonist
between labor and capital was as pronounced
h.
is now. but no benefit to the former interest
resulted from it. It was only when produc
ton was greatly stimulated by labor saving
machinery, that the labor class found it pos
sible to accomplish diminution of the hours
Of labor. When through the aid Of steam
| and the loom, the moving machine, the reap
er, the thrashing machine and the thousand
and one Ingenious contrivances in the higher
departments of mechanical skill, one man be
came able to do the work Of ten men, he soon
found himself earning more money. with
which he bought better clothes, supplied his
table more beautifully, sent his children to
school, aud became better husband and fa-
tiier, aud in every way more worthy and
| reputable citizen. Then came the desire for
| more extended information and higher de-
gree of culture It Is from the brain that ali
Improvement comes, and to the men who
| l,avc invented labor-saving machinery, the
labor class owes its partial enfranchisement
from toll, and its rapidly improving material
and social con lition. This obligation, how
ever, is only debt Of gratitude to individu-
ais Of its own class for out of its own ranks
| have sprung the men of genius, who by
| their cunning mechanical contrivances have
revolutonlzed the world of labor. The i'm.
proved condition of the labor class is there's
| fore not concession from capital to labor, but
| the result of a succession of Improvements Ia
the mode of production, drought which the
artisan, mechanic and laborer are able to earn
more money. The best evidence ia the world
tnat the labor class will benefit morally and
Intellectually by the reduction of the hours
OF labor FROM ten to eight, is that it has al
ready benefited by the reduction from twelve
70 ten hours.
In discussing this question, the New York
Tribune says
ut is incumbent upon the jonrneyuan
therefore, to demonstrate, as we trust they
| can and will, their higher right, socially and
mentally, to those conceded hours OF relaxs-
| iiou"
This extract is either very careless'y written
or shows profound misapprehensions OF the
condition of the labor class of this country
TO deny that it was improved socially and
mentally" by the hours of relaxation long
since conceded. is to dispute self eviden
fact. The 'journcymen' have already de
monstrated their "bigher right socially ant
mentally" to the conceded hours from lively
to ten by an improved intellectual status, b.
more comfortable homes, and BY giving bet
ter facilities for education to their children
; 10 doubt that the present concession, frar
ten 20 eight hours, will work u still create
!, Improvement morally, socially and inteflec
tualfy. is to doubt the 6na! beneficial lnfa
ease af civilization opaa the hyuaa family.