The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-13
Education for Mechanics.


The question of the extent of the
benefits of education to the working
mechanic is an old one. Many place
too high a value upon the utility of
learning. To them knowledge seems
all-powerful; it is key that unlocks
every door. 1t is among those of
lesser culture that this opinion mostly
obtains. They overeStimate the value
of science, while the better educated
fan into the opposite error, and under
value it. AS usual, the truth is to be
found in the middle. Education of
whatever nature eXerts a certain in
tiuence 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 lneffle1ent mechanic say that he
would have done much better if he
mad only been educated. He cannot
see that his faults are positive and
inherent. Those who possess edu-
cation, finding that their natural
faults still impede their progress,
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 knoWl-
edge is worth. After he had 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 knowledge at all, the typical in
telllgent workman is always a reader.
He receives a scientific journal and
possesses half dozen books treating
of lathe work and kindred sub
Jects. They describe case-harden
ing compounds, brazing and
welding fiuxes, and give hints on
lathe management, on cutting angles
of tools for different metals and the
like. Every day he may have to go
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 intelli-
gently at home. If any ques-
ton comes up with his employ
er about mechanical 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
ence, and not by book theology. 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 60 a
little deeper into the subject, it
may appear that it is because
of his excellence as a mechanic
tina! he rejects the book in prac,
| tice. 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 apprenticeship of the mechanical
Al is the work of generations of me-
chanics is impaired to the learner.
The evolutions of so many minds and
years should be treated with reXer-
ence. To institute genuine and val
liable improvement is far from easy
All this proves the dignity of the
position held by the mechanic. He
has knowledge of shop-work that is
derived, as just stated, from genera
tons of the worlds work. His knowl-
edge of this work is, then, Of the best
His acquaintance with different met
ais, with the treatment of different
steels and irons, is perfect. His APP
plication of it is an instinct. He
will seldom find in his course of read
ing find justification for leaving
the way he is accustomed to. His
special branch he knowns SO well
that the book can scarcely improve it
His thorough knowledge of shop.
work attains to the dignity of ailiber.
al education. 1t is not to be despised
or looked down on because nos &C.
quired under the roof of a college,
This is a fair picture of the good
mechanic as found in our shops to
day. He reads, but does not otter
succeed in applying his reading. YET
| he will study, and will enjoy study
ing. 1t elevates his mind giving il
something besides itself to live upon
seldom as the direct application of hi:
reading comes into his work, its indi.
rect influence affects every blow Of
his hammer. His intellectual being i:
improved by it, and his self-respect
increased. His journal and book;
give it good pabulum. The benefits
of education cannot be doubted in hi
case.-Scientific American.