The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-05-29
TRADE SCHOOL COMMISSION.
Features of Their Last Annual Report Just Issued.

Just Issued.
 Hartford, May 27.-The trade school
 commission. consisting of J. H. Whit temore of Naugatuck, Max Adler of New Haven and Congressman Lew is Sperry Of South Windsor, has com
 pleted it's work and the report of the commission is now in the hands of Governor Roberts. The eminence of
 the gentlemen composing the commis-
 sion, has led to the expectation that a report of great interest would come
 from the Investigations and inquiries
 which they have made. That expecta- tion will be fully met. The report is one ot great educational value and will be of lasting interest in advancing 1 the public school system of Connecti- cut. The commission in reviewing the
 manual training that has been intro duced in schools says that a very fine example of a manual training school of a high class is afforded by the Board
 man school in. New Haven. The work
 of this admirable institution, the conn mission states, tends toward that l which should be done in a trade school. The object of trade school as defined
 by the commission is to offer boys primarily, and girls also, if they desire i to avail themselves of it's privileges, the opportunity to learn definite, specific, i wage-producing trade. In the opinion
 of the commission the need for schools of this sort is immediate and pressing. The report says that the demand made
 upon skilled workmen are now, per-
 haps, greater than ever before; but the provision for training skilled workmen
 in the state is practically unimportant. . The boy who wishes to learn what is called ''a trade finds that there is small chances for him in Connecticut. The apprentice system of the forefa- thers has practically broken down. i Very many establishments do not re- ceiye apprentices at all. Two results are attributed by the commission to
 this state of things: First, that an al- l together too large proportion of our i boys seek other employments than that
 of skilled labor at the handicrafts; sec ond, that boys who do find their way in i to the ranks of the various trades are very poorly instructed. They under
 take work, knowing very little about 1 how it should be- done, and from this | follows dissatisfaction on the part of
 employers, resentment on the part of
 the employed and disappointment of
 those for whom ultimately the work
 was done. The aggregate of poor work
 now being done by the younger mem- l bers Of the various trades in the state of Connecticut would greatly surprise
 any one who has not made an investi-
 gation of the matter. The trade school | is an attempt to remedy this state of
 things. It is an attempt to offer to boys at slight expense, or not expense at all, the opportunity to become really l skilled in some branch of productive labor. The commission holds that the project in view is not experimental and 1 describes the work of the New York trade school and also the Baron de Hirsh school. One of our two national I industrial rivals, Germany, has for some time been making a special. feat ure of trade schools. It seems likely l that the rapid rise of Germany to eminence in the industrial world and
 the skill of her workmen is almost en- tirely due to the development and pro-
 gress of these institutions for teach ing young men how to work. Unless 1 Connecticut is willing to follow at a
 very early date along the lines thus marked out by her rivals and asso-
 ciates in industry, as leading to growth
 which will secure the maintenance and l ~F 11-i1I s,, |, fte must be feared that we shall soon
 cease to enjoy our present advantages.
 The report adds: It is of very little use
 to give 8 boy sufficient education to
 make him an intelligent voter. Unless we also given him the sort of education which will enable him to earn his liy- ling-and to earn a, good living of the sort which is secured by every indus trious skilled laborer in this state. The commission holds the view that a part Of the burden in establishing and main
 taining trade schools should be assum- ed Ly the state, the commonwealth con- tributing an amount equal to that ap. Iplopriated by any town where such 2 school may be established. The 1oca school board with the appropriation o1 the state board of education will under the bill that is recommended by tht
 commission will decide on the trades il (which instruction is to be given. Int
 schools will be open day and night anC
 the instruction is to be free to all citi
 zens of Connecticut and to their chil
 dren. The members of the commission
 who have studied the questions at is
 sue thoroughly are citizens of distinc ton in the fields which they occupy il
 life. The Hon. J. H. Whittemore o
 Naugatuck is one of the captains 0
 industry in Connecticut. The Hon
 Max Adler of New Haven is the em ployer of great industrial forces an, fully understands the importance 0 skilled work. Ex-Congressman Sperr, is one of the most prominent member of the bar in Connecticut and grad uate os Amherst college. He is a ma
 of broad training and has long been tn
 friend and advocate of industrial pro : gress. The report will commend itsel from every point of view to the ap Iproval of the people of the state.