Omaha daily bee., 1890-04-06
ESTABLjSHING TRADE ScHOoLs.

The builders exchange of Philudel-
phia, which for some time has been con
sidering the question of opening trade
schools, has decided to do So The plan
OF the exchange is that the pupils are TO
be learners employed by master work
men, who will have practice at their
trades while they are being taught
principles in the school. 1t has been
demonstrated that in some trades ut
least the learner thus Systematically
taught and given opportunities to prac-
tice may be developed into a
skilled workman more economically
than where he is left to pick up Il trade,
or even where an effort is really made to
give him instruction in the shop. The
purpose of the trade schools Of the build
ers' exchange, says the Philadelphia
Lcdger, is to make better worlimen, and
its tendency should be to elevate the
trades andsenablc the men to command
higher wages by reason Of their greater
skill.
As was to have been expected. there is
opposition to the establishment of these
schools on the part of some of the trades
Of Philadelphia, but this is not
likely to deter the exchange from car
rying out the purpose upon which II has
decided after long deliberation. such
opposition, based as it is upon narrow
and selfish motives, will not be sustained
by intelligent public opinion. The fact
is that everybody who has given this
question of trade schools thoughtful and
unprejudiced consideration has reached
the conviction that something of the
kind is absolutely necessary TO rescue the
youth of America from idleness, to put
our industries in a position of independ-
ence of foreign skilled labor, and to
prevent the dccadence of mechanical in
genuity and inventive talent among u.s.
The apprenticeship system having prac-
tically disappeared, what are American
boys to do in order to obtain respect
able subsistence? They cannot all go
into the professions. the ranks of which
are now overcrowded, and in all com
mercial employments the supply is very
largely in excess of the demand. The
youth of the country must learn to work,
and as they are not allowed to become
apprentices in the old way nothing is left
to be done but to give them such
opportunities as the trade schools afford.
Next in Importance to educating the
minds of American boys is the duty of
educating their hands. We must all
live, if we live honestly, by labor of some
sort, and there is no graver injustice
than to exclude boy from a vocation TO
which his talents lead him. Whenever
ciety are injured, for the man who is not
permitted to freely exercise his natural
ability is deprived of the use of capital
which would benefit not himself alone,
but his fellow man as well. The gravity
of the question of making provision for
the mechanical training of American |
youth is only just beginning to be real
lied. 1t will grow upon the intelligent |
thought of the country as the ranks of
unemployed young men increase, who in |
their hopelessness will recruit the army
of criminals. The records of crime show
that in recent years the number of |
American-born criminals has alarm
ingly increased. This must continue
to be the case at more appall |
ing rate if our boys are turned
loose upon the world without the knowl- |
edge that will enable them to earn an |
honest livelihood and become self-re-
specting men. There is very certain to
come decisive reaction from the pres
ent state of affairs, and meanwhile the
trade school, properly conducted, should
be encouraged. 1t will hardly prove to
be a thorough remedy, but it is a valua
BILE step in the right direction and if it
should become general could not fail to
give material relief.
S.----s--