The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-10

claimed throughout the history of the
school that it's graduates are as skill
full and effective practical machinists
as those who have served 8 years APP
premiership to learn the machinists'
trade. This is a very bold claim, when
it is remembered that together with
this attainment of practical skill the
graduate has obtained a thorough tech
nical and scientific education. After a
very thorough experience and after en-
ploying large numbers of these gradu
ates in all capacities in machine shops,
think the claim is well sustained.
Second-These pupils will receive, as
part of their shop practice, much
larger amount of time in lectures and
instruction upon the technical part of
the machinist's business than is given
in the technical school.
Third-It is proposed to train every
pupil in the general knowledge and
practice of drawing and machine design,
and any one having particular taste in
this direction can have special and adj
Vanced instruction, the object being to
make draughtsmen superior to engin-
eering-school graduates in the following
particulars:
(a) More expert in execution of
drawing and lettering
(b) Much more thoroughly familiar
with all the shop knowledge affecting
the efficiency of draughtsman on sim
pie everyday work.
(e) A more ready, reliable and pre-
else use of arithmetic.
Fourth-It is proposed to train every
pupil in a general knowledge and prac-
| tice of pattern making and foundry
moulding, and in special cases give
advanced instruction and practice in
pattern making In all cases, however
! the machinists trade will be taught as
the basis of any special line of mechan-
| ical work
Fifth-Pupils who exhibit suitable
| qualifications as Workmen and as di-
rectors of men, will have special oppor-
| tunities to be come fitted for RESPONSE
BILE positions as working machine shop
! foremen Such pupils, among other
| qualifications necessary for foremen,
would be required to show general
ability in drawing, pattern making and
| special accuracy and reliability in
arithmetic.
Sixth-Is any one from the above
mentioned classes of men exhibits taste
| and natural abilities for high-gr. de
engineering work, requiring the highsj.
i mathematical and scientific knowledge
| he will be encouraged and aided to take
a course to meet his special require
| ments in an engineering school.
The school board of any town where
| 1t is proposed to establish one of these
half-time schools must be induced to
make what seems to be a most reason
able provision for class of boys whose
needs are as imperative and as reason
able as those of boys who wish to fit
for college. Therefore. the present
high school course for this class should
be changed and made especially suited
to their needs. This is as reasonable a
demand, if not more so, as the demand
of the boy to be fitted for college.
The necessary provisions on the part
| Of the public school consist in room and
instruction for a certain number of
boys Only one-half of this number
will be in the school room at the same
time On the score of economy this ar
rangement will be greatly in favor of
the half-time school over the present
method
1 believe it possible to cover in the
four years course all the studies
which a literally educated mechanic
will require. and at the same time to
prepare him nearly or altogether to en-
ter a technical school, if his ability
and opportunity permit.
An appointment to the half time
school would be the result of careful,
honest, quiet Investigation into the
boys life, as to his habits of work and
study, as to his personal habits of or
! q
Sundays and holidays, as to his love
and care of tools and as to his tastes
for mechanical work, especially as to
what he has actually constructed with
tools before he is IA years of age. All
these facts can be collected from his
neighbors and teacher, and so verified
that more reliance may be placed on
them than on any common entrance
examination. Are not these things a
truer indication of a boys fitness for
the life Of a mechanic or engineer than
the one single quality of being able
to pass written examinations in recita-
lions, such as the colleges require for
entrance?
Perhaps the most succe ssful technical
schools have been organized by private
corporations and managed by a board of
trustees. who have had all departments
their direction 1t is believed that the
| plan proposed for the half-time school,
! where a corporation is formed and
| charter secured for doing exactly what
the school shop wishes to do will have
great advantages over educational cor
| porations as heretofore formed and CHAR
tered.
AS a basis of confidence in the financial
estimates for the maintenance of school
shops | refer to the statistics covering a
period of 27 years while l was superin-
partment Of the Polytechnic Institute of
Worcester. Mass, from May l, 1869 to
For 26 years the average annual finan-