The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-27
EDUCATION.
Moral and Industrial Instruc-
ton as Considered by the
Senate Committee.

C0mrade Cohen Makes Some More
Valuable Extracts From
the Report.
Comparing the Educational Institu-
tions Of this Country With Those
Of England-The Results.
For The ENQUIRER.
On page 1922 ofthe printed testimony
of the Blair senate committee, volume J.,
can be found the following
205 East Thirty-Sixth Street, New York.
September 8, 1888.
"The immense increase of productive
power in the last fifty years has not been
very beneficial to the majority of labor
ers, and it is easy to ascertain the cause.
"The productive power of unskilled
labor is about half that of skilled labor.
Hence unskilled labor must always have
the lowest wages that are paid. ~
ain consequence of the lack of indus
trial education, and the difficulties in
the way of apprenticeship, there has
always been great excess of unskilled
labor, and the glutted labor markets of
the world necessarily reduce wages to
the lowest point compatible with the
life of the laborer-a condition which
holds this class oflaborers in permanent
vassalage, their children being doomed
by poverty to similar condition.
"The very obvious method of relief
must be by diminishing the amount of
unskilled labor in the market 60 as to
raise its wages, and by converting un-
skilled into skilled and intelligent labor
ers enable them to work their wav to
comfort and independence. ~
"This is accomplished by industrial
education, and there is no duty for
American commonwealths half so inn
portant as providing industrial education
for all citizens for the degradation of
intense poverty and wage slavery is in
compatible with the existence of sound
and stable republic. r
"While complete industrial education
thus emancipates the poorest class of
toilers, and gives them the dignity of in
dependent citizens, it has still greater
effect in increasing the productive power
and national wealth, and giving to our
country bv superior skill the command
of all the markets of the world. as
Moreover, right industrial educa-
ton puts an end to the commercial con-
vulsions which throw thousands ont of
employment, and, by keeping all in
steady occupation, will add not less than
from 10 to 20 per cent to the prosperity
of producers. I mean that a good in
dustrial education will give to each pupil
in less time than is required for the study
ofLatin or Greek, thorough and skillful
command of not less than five or ten of
the most useful arts or trades. Two
months of proper industrial education
will give much more knowledge and
practical skill than two or three years of
common apprenticeship, as has been
fully shown in the Boston institute of
technology and other schools. Pupils
thus trained and competent to hold the
best positions in any one of their fayorite
occupations, five to ten in number. can
never be disturbed or thrown out of en-
ployment by any fluctuations of business
or changes in the labor market, and un-
profitable occupations will be quietly
abandoned until their prosperity is re-
stored. Moreover, large number of
these skilled artisans will be able to
establish business for themselves, and
become EMPLOYERS so as to increase the
demand for labor. T.. RI
"Regardiug industrial education as the
panacea for the evils endured .sbv the
laborlng population, I would add that in
dustrial education is In certain degree
moral education, developing, as it does.
industry and fidelity to duty, which are
not promoted by mere literary education.
"Moral education, the power and prac
ticability of which I have shown in my
work on "Moral Education" requires the
industrial education as its basis. The
reformatory schools of Lancaster, Ohio,
and other places l need not mention,
have fully proved that industrial COM
bined with moral education is capable
of ofrevolutionizing character, converting
young criminals into good citizens, and
elevating youths of the better class to a
moral dignity and refinement superior
to the conditions of our best society. : /
refer especially to the experience Of Fell
lenberg at Rofwyl, and Rev. Mr.. Wich-
ern at Hamburg.
industrial and moral education will
place our country very far in advance
of all other nations, and rightly applied
they will in less than fifty years estab-
lisy such prosperity and virtue that agi-
tators and 1conoclastic reformers will
disappear. JOSEPH RoDEs BUCHANAN"
On page sos, volume III, of said testi-
mony will be found the testimony of
Mr.. William Mather, the proprietor of a
large engineering establishment in Man
chester, England, then on visit to the
United States as member of the royal
- -f Tor