Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-06-20
DAKOTA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20. 1888
Education for Mechanics.
The question of the extent of tho

Inc question OF the extent OF tho
benefits of education to the working
nechanic is an old one. Many place
too high a value upon the utility of
learning. To them knowledge seems
all powerful; it is a key that unlocks
every door. 1t is among those Of les
ser culture that this opinion mostly OBJ
tains. They overestimate the value of
science, while the better educated fall
INTO the opposite error. and undervalue
it. As usual, the truth is to be found
in the middle. Education Of whatever
nature exerts a certain influeace upon
all other actions but is not responsible
for everything. Those who are want
ing in it are apt to attribute all Their
troubles to this deficiency. How often
does some inefficient mechanic say that
he would have done much better il
he had only been educated. He cannot
see that his faults are positive and in
herent. Those who possess education.
finding that their natural faults still inn
pede their progress, come to the conelu-
sion that what they have learned is of
little value.
In the case of the mechanic it is not
easy to determine just what knowledge
isworth. After lac has learned his trade
mechanically, it is worth his while to
go further and read up what has been
written about it. While many OF the
best workmen do not use book knowl-
edge at all, the typical intelligent
workman is always n reader. He re-
ceives scientific journal and possesses
half dozen books treating of lathe
work aud kindred subjects They de.
scribe case-hardening compounds, braz.
ing anu welding tluxes, and give hints
on lathe management, on cutting angles
of tools fer different metals, and the
like. Every day he may have to 90
through some of the operations they
tell Of, yet rarely or never will he leave
the beaten track. But although he may
not follow them in practice, he always
reads them. He does good work in the
shop. and reads in,clligently at home
Ii any question comes up with his en-.
ployer ABOUT mechanical points, he will
bring him the next day some of his
books or papers as authorities, vet his
shop work is done on principles learned
ny hard experience, and not by book
theory. His books and his scientific
Journal do not seem to help him there.
Clever as the man may be, he would.
seem at first sight to lack the faculty of
applying his book knowledge. Yet il
we 90 little deeper into the subject, it
may appear that it is because OF his ex-
ceiience as q mechanic that he rejects
the book in practc. The hard school
OF experience has taught him two les
sons. One has been a right way of do
lag things; the other has been the dam
ger of trying 10 improve on the way.
In the apprenticeship of the mechanical
arts the work of generations of me-
.ehaHics is impaired to the learner. The
evolution of SO many minds and wears
should he treated with reverence. To
institute a genuine and valuable i'm.
provemcnt is far from easy,
All this proves the dignity OF the no.
sition held by the mechanic. He has a
knowledge of shop work that is derived,
as just stated. from generations of the
worlds work. His knowledge of this
work is. then, of the very best. His nc
quaintance with different metals, with
the treatment of different steels aud
irons, is perfect. His application of it
is aa instinct. He will seldom find his
course of reading a justification for
leaving the way he is accustomed to.
His special branch he knows SO well
ihat the books can scarcely improve it.
His thorough knowledge of Shop work
attains to the dignity of liberal educa-
ton. 1t is not to be despised or looked
down on because not acquired under the
roof of 4 college.
This is a fair picture of the good me-
chan:c as found in our shops to-day.
He reads. but does not often succeed in
applying his reading. Yet he will study
and viii enjoy studying. He elevates
his mind by giving it something besides
itsseif to live upon. Seldom as the di-
rect application OF his reading comes
into his work. its indirect influence af.
fleets every blow of his hammer.-Scien.
ttEc Asacicau.