The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-09
The Apprentice Schools Of France.


France.
By way of illustration. four typical
establishments are selected. all of which
are situated in Paris. and exemplify va
rious combinations of a workshop with
a school. There seems TO be no reason
why these institutions, or some modifi-
cation of them, more exactly adjusted
TO the local conditions of labor. should
not be reproduced in England or the
United States. The oldest of the schools
described, the Institution of St. Nicho-
las. founded in 1927. IS under the man
agement of religious guild exclusively
devoted toedueati0n. There are here
$50 bows. all children of artisans, who
pay six dollars atnlonth for their board
and lodging. Small as the individual
contribution is. the aggregate income
and expenditure Of the establishment
amounted lastyear 70 $3.50, goo. although
the services of the friars who conduct
the school are given at nominal rate.
The average age of the pupils on en-
trance iseleveh years. but none are adj
mitted who cannot already read and
write. The greater part of every day
is given uD TO manual work, only two
hours being reserved for book studies
on three DAYS of the week, the same
amount of time on the alternate three
DAYS being devoted to drawing. There
are on the premises great number of
workshops, each let out TO an approved
craftsman, to whom are 8pprenticed,
for n term of three or four years. some
ten or twelve boys. The trades thus
., nf
ton in Paris. such as those of car
penter, wood-tUrner, wood-caryer.
marble, mason, brass-wOrkers, carver
and glider, clock-maker. compost
tor, printer, wood-engraver, and
so forth. In these shops nothing is
made that will not sell, the apprentices
learning the value not only of materials
but of time and although the works that
pass under their hands are graduated
to their capacity. they are of precisely
the same character as those which APP
prentices in any ordinary workshop
would have to undertake. The ap
prentices earn nothing during their
term OF service beyond a little pocket
money when they are well advanced,
but when they leave the school they
know TIC whole mystery of their trade,
and are thoroughly expert artisans.
They can take the raw materials and
from them evolve q finished article and
they win earn at once from 81 to 81. 20
dav. instead of the forty. sixty, or
eighty cents usually obtained in Paris
by Young workmeu Just out of their
time Their reputation, moreover. for
stoad.ncss. skill and general intelli-
gence Is such that the graduates OF this
school have little difficulty in securing
uninterrupted employment and by the
time they reach the age of thirty, COM
monty rise to the position of foreman
or master.
Another school which deserves to he
scanned in some detail, both on account
of its theoretical merits aud the striking
practical results, was established eight
years ago by NJ. Leon Say, at the ex-
pense of the city of Paris. Boys are re-
ceived here at the age of thirteen or
fourteen, provided their primary edu-
cation has been completed and after a
three years course are turned out with
sufficient experience and technical skill
TO command from 50 to IS week,
wages which are reckoned in France eX-
ceptionaliy good for Voung journeymen
artisans. The instruction offered at this
school is not only graiuitous, but actu-
ally remunerative, TOE the pupils receive
weekly qualification varying from
thirty to sixty cents. At this institution
five hours day are given to book
studies, including modelling and draw
ing TO a scale, and six hours To the work
ofthe shops. There are two principal
workshops devoted to the workers
in iron, the other "a the workers in
wood. and the trades taught are forg-
inc. metal. turning. carpentry, wood
turning and pattern making. During
his first, or preparatory year, no at
tempt is made to specialize the work OF
the apprentice, nor is he expected to
produce anything f0r sale, but the first
twelve-month over, he settles down tO
one specific craft, and henccforth 81
the articles he makes are salabie. In
this respect the municipal school seems
to possess an advantage over the ST.
Nicholas Institution, because in tbs
early stages OF training. when work
manS.ip is very Imperfect 1t is Scarcel y
advisable to strive to produce 4 mer
charitable article. Better waste WOO
than spoil an apprentice. is the maxim
followed. There is no doubt, too. thai
the general intelligence of the young
worEnen is fuLhered by allowing then
10 see Something OF all the phases o
their trade, and OF allied trades a well
instead ofconining them by aprematurC
division of labor to single narrow tune
ton. The technical efficiency attaine,
by the pupils of this school may be in
ferred from the fact that almost all th'
tools used were made by the appren
tees themselves, andIbat several OF the
machines, as, for instance. ribbon saw
made by the boys of this establishment
attracted high commentator at the las
French Exposition The whole cost o
this Institution. including land. build
ings. and furniture 60 the city OF Pari
was $3.50 00), and the working expense
are $4,000 wear. Two hundred anC
twenty-oae pupils, however, are Hlread
acco lated. aud the benefits of tn
school will be speedily extended TO
much greater number with very Sigh
increase OF total disbursements.
A somewhat dilferenttype oftrainin,
establishment Il The Communal School
founded in 1878 at she instance OF M
Salicis. naval officer who has give
much attention to technical education
The pupils are admitted here at Il yer
early are aud thew have moi as rule
completed their PRIMARY education; bu
if they stay our the prescribed thre
years course. they not only get a
good instruction in book knowledge q
in any OF the ordinary elementar
schools, but they will also have see