Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-02-27
THE AMERICAN BOY.
How Manual Training VIII Help to Make
Him Good Man.

How Manual Training Will Help to Make
Him Good Man.
We have enjoyed numerous oppor-
tunities to discuss with Intelligent work
ingmcn the ultimate destiny of the
American boy; we have heard the views
of the most thoughtful among them
with regard to the apprenticeship sys-
TEN, or rather the lack of it, in this
country, but we have found but a very
small number willing to say even a good
word for the introduction of a course of
manual training in the public schools.
The argument they use against it is in
variably the same; they are opposed
to any movement that would result in
overstocking the market for skilled
labor by encouraging young men to
enter the ranks of labor. 1t is useless
to point out to them that their action
in this respect has already resulted
in crowding the legal and medical pro-
fessions, and forcing into them large
numbers of young men who are but
poorly equipped for their practice, in
depressing the demand for clerks, sales
men, etc, until the services of those
who have learned no other calling are a
drug in the market, while the ranks of
our artisans are recruited mainly from
the immigrants arriving on our shores.
They use the very facts quoted to point
their own case, and assert that the con-
dition of the thousands of struggling
LAWYERS, doctors, clerks, ETC., is a warn
ing to them.
This is selfish view to take of the
situation, and one that is bound to re-
coil on the heads of those by whom it is
entertained. Already we hear on all
sides complaints as to the number of
half-trained mechanics, whose work
brings discredit on their calling and
trouble to those who place reliance n
it, and it is easy enough to discover the
cause. Whereas, former claimants to
admission to the artists ranks were COM
PEELED to undergo thorough preparation
and instruction, in the shape of An ap-
premiership, andSenjoyed an abundant
opportunity for practice as journeymen
before being accepted as masters of their
craft, they are freed from all such re-
strictions nowadays. A man with
bare smattering Of business finds lit
tie difficulty in securing employment
provided he will make himself cheap
enough, and he is soon able to fill, how.
ever imperfectly, the place of the me
chanic.
Manual training at school would be
the first step towards remedy for this
state of affairs. In place of starting in,
after completing course of schooling,
during which no taste for manual work
has been encouraged, to master the
rudiments of mechanical trade, the
aspirant would be able to take hand
in practical operation at a point from
which he would soon be able to reach
a position where he would prove of
value; in other words, before attaining
the age at which his responsibilities as
a member of the community commence,
he would have gained by actual practice
a fair knowledge of his business.
A knowledge of the first principles Of
mechanical work gained at school can
not but tend to make the student bet
ter mechanic, and with the advent of a
better class of mechanics the existence
of the botch workman, who is after all
the most dangerous competitor of skilled
labor, will become mpossible.-Safety
Valve.