Iron County register., 1883-04-26
Education for Mechanics.

The question of the extent of the
benefits of education to the working me-
chanic is an old one. Many place too
nigh value upon the utility of learn
ing. To them knowledge seems all
powerful; it is a key that unlocks every
door. 1t is among those of lesser cul-
ture that this opinion mostly obtains.
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
cxerts a certain influence upon all our
actions, but is not responsible for every
thing. Those who are wanting 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 if he had only
been educated. He can not see that his
faults are positive and inherent. Those
who possess education. finding that their
natural faults still impede their progress
come to the conclusion that what they
have learned is of little value.
In the case of the mechanic it is not
easy to determine Just what knowledge
is worth. After he has learned his trade
mechanically, it is worth his while to 90
further and read up what has been writ
ten about it. While many of the best
workmen do not use book knowledge at
all. the typical intelligent workman is
always Il reader. He receives q scien-
tifc journal and possesses half dozen
books treating of lathe work and kim
dred subjects. They describe case
hardening compounds, brazing and
welding tluxes, and give hints on lathe
management, on cutting angles of tools
for 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
intelligently at home. If any question
comes up with his employer about me-
chanical points, he will bring him the
next day some of his books or papers as
authorities, yet his shop work is done
on principles learned by hard expert
cnce. 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 if we go little
deeper into the, subject, it may ap-
pear that it is because of his excellence
as a mechanic that he rejects the book
in practice. The hard school of expert
ence has taught him two lessons. One
has been a right way of doing things;
the other has been the danger of trying
to improve on that way. In the appren-
ticeship of the mechanical arts the work
of generations of mechanics is impaired
to the learner. The evolutions of so
many minds and years should be treated
with reverence. To institute a genuine
and valuable improvement is far from
easy. p,
All this proves the dignity of the po-
sition held by the mechanic. He has a
knowledge of shop-work that is de-
rived, as just stated, from generations
of the worlds work. His knowledge
of this work is, then, of the very best.
His acquaintance with different metals.
with the treatment of different steels
and irons, is perfect. His application
of it is an instinct. He will seldom find
in his course of. reading justification
for leaving the way he is accustomed
to. His special branch he knows SO
well that the books can scarcely i'm
prove it. His thorough knowledge of
shop-work attains to the dignity of Il
liberal education. 1t is not to be de-
spised or looked down on because not
acquired under the roof of a college.
This is fair picture of the good me-
chanic as found in our shops to-day. He |
reads, but does not often succeed in APP
plying his reading. Yet. he will study, |
and will enjoy studying. 1t elevates
his mind by giving it something be-
sides itself to live upon. Seldom as the |
direct application of his reading comes |
into his work, its indirect influence af-
fects. every blow of his hammer. His
being is improved by it,
and his self-respcct increased. His jour
nal and books give it good pabulum.
The benefits of education can not be
doubted in his case.-ScientJfc Ameri-
can.