The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-08-04
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One Of the great features Of our modern
times is the division Of labor. AS old simpler
contrivances and crudcr state Of knowledge,
made it possible for one man to accomplish
many things, orall Of one thing, with passabls
success. Not so to-day. The ardent genius
and eager labor Of tho present century, have
expended every department Of life and science,
and the manufacture Of the most common
articles, or the study of the most necessary
knowledge assumes dimensions undreamed Of
before, and far exceeding In their require
ments what one man can accomplish. Far
exceeds what one man can accomplish, the
demand for articles in the circle of which
he is a member and far exceeds what one
man can accomplish, the degree of fincness
and perfection REQUISITE for a good production
Of the present day.
| Let us take the simplest examples that pre-
sent themselves. Formerly the shoemaker
made pair Of shoes and made them through
out. How different nowadays! One man
cuts the uppers another shapes the soles; a
third stitches the leather, fourth pegs the
soles, fifth fastens the ready -made heels, a
sixth finishes, and seventh blacks them
In factory where thousands arc made in
place Of tens, each of these labors Is subdi-
vided, and each of these eight or ten subdi-
visions is attended to by different person.
How comes this endless division of what was
one mans labor? For two very good reasons.
The first is the extensive demand. The second
and more important reason is, that in doing
small part of the labor, each workman can at
tain far higher excellence. The man who
simply cut out soles all day, can do IT much
better and quicker than another, who now
cuts out sole, then stitches an upper and
then blacks, finishes, or takes measures. And
at present we demand such perfection IN the
articles Of common use, that the old workman
OF the whole Tails Behind, and caut1ot satisfy
the requirements OF the age.
have cited one OF the simplest examples
OF labor division. 1t needs but moments
reflection to carry the conviction to every one
in every trade, IN every bnsiness,in every pro-
fession, in every art, in every science.
The barber, who was formerly also a SUR
geofi, and cutter of corns, and drawer Of
teeth, and weather-prophet, and charmcr
of snakes, has dwindled to the simple ton
serial artist " of our time. And when we
look at the sciences whose advances have been
so gigantic, whose applications have become
SO immense, the division Of labor is still great
or because more necessary. Where is the an
Gent philosopher who knew everything about
every science9 Gone, disappeared. Inc
world knows him no more.
Division of labor Is the cry of our age
Division Of labor, that we may produce more
perfect work ! Division Of labor, that we
may produce more! Division Of labor that
we may more freely understand our tasks rs
Division of labor, for the benefit of the labor
ers, and for the advantage Of those we labor
for.
The cnnplovment of special teachers for
specia, purposes IL su act perfectly analogous
to the employment of special men in our fac
tories TO attend to special departments of la
bor-one to forge the barrel Of a pistol, an.
other to shape It, third to rifle IT. fourth
TO sight It. a fifth to polish It, and SO ON until
the whole is ready for market. 1t is analogous
to the divisions and subdivisions Of labor on
the heights of science. Whatever seems good
policy In the factory, and at tie college, in
the Legislative halls, with their special com
mittees, and In the great wants Of the COM
mercial world, mnst prove good policy in the
school-room.
| IF one man has arrived to the knowledge of
successfully teaching English branches in their
present state Of development, that is enough
for him. Don't ask him to study music and
drawing and French and German and above
all do not ask him to teach those branches. -
Let him keep the practice of his own craft
and successfully exert it, No one can be in
spired with a dozen subjects and do good ser.
vice in the cause of all. Exceptional beings
are perhaps able to claim high proficiency
with great many sided-ness, and faculty 70,
irnartino all their mental store to another
Init thew are exceptional. and their measure