New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-03
TRADE Union SCHOOL PLANS.


For many years the trade union congresses of
Great Britain have been of marked and in
creasing interest. among other reasons because
of their manifestations of the desires and de
signs of organized labor in the chief industrial
nation of the world and IN that nation in which
labor is most generally and most successfully
organized" This years congress is OF greater
Importance than any of its predecessors, since
this year there is for the first time n large
Labor party in Parliament and the government
itself is unequivocally committed TO the exc
cutlOn of various policies desired by the trade
unions. The programme of the congress is
chiefly occupied with subjects for political and
parliamentary action, and among them con
spicuous place is held by proposition for edu-
cational reform. The government has already
put through the House of Commons a pretty
radical education bill. intended TO free the pub
lie schools from the last vestiges of Church in
huence. But II apparently does not go nearly
far enough TO satisfy some Of the trade union
lists, who are urging resolutions in favor Of
q far more radical law. two features OF which
may we'll receive consideration.
II is demanded that the State shall maintain
school children. That means that the State shall
provide not only free instruction and free text
books. as 1t does here. but also free food and
clothing and medical attendance. Except for the
in all cases to be excepted-the State is to stand
In loco PARENTS to all the children IN the king
dom until they reach the age of sixteen years
and Il is TO do this in complete dissertation from
the poor law administration. so that not only
the children Of the very poor are thus 20 be cared
for as an act Of aims but those of the we'll 20 do
and rich as we'll 1t may be that the latter may
have the privilege OF being excused from the
operation Of the law if they wish. and well 70 do
parents may have the right TO feed and clothe
their own children. though OF this we would
not he too sure. for not few social reformers
have denied such a right. and have demanded
that In order 10 avoid distinctions and contrasts
and 10 insure equality, all children attending
public schools shall be compelled 10 dress alike
and TO eat at a common table. In brief. these
trade uniOnists are contending for an applica-
ton Of the extreme socialist or communist sys-
tenn, Under which all that parents have to do is
10 bring children into the world and then turn
them ever 10 the State TO be brought up.
: he second feature Of the proposition is that
secondary and technical instruction shall be an
essential part Of every child's education Every
child is 10 he required 10 learn in school some
trade or profession. far II can do so up
TO the age Of sixteen years. and is To be
instructed in carpentry, dressmaking. electrical
engineering. landscape painting. medicine and
surgery and other arts by the ablest masters
ohtainable at public expense. Whether the
children or their parents are to have the privilege
OF electIng the courses they are To pursue.
whether these are 10 be arbitrarily assigned by
the State and this child is 10 he told he must
he dentist. that one he must be a stone mason.
and the other one he must be a musician. does
not appear. In either case. the purpose of the
measure would be TO carry public instruction
upward 70 q standard never vet approached by
any country.
II is scarcely supposable that the present Brit
fish government win give serious consideration
10 any such extraordinary proposals as these.
Yet they sre put forward at this great Tepresen-
tative gathering Of the organized labor of the
kingdom. and may not improbably be intro
duced into Parliament at the next session by
some members of that Labor party which has
now attained such formidable proportions, and
the influence OF which with the government is
so great. At any rate, they indicate strkngy
tire extremes TO which men may go when they
are possessed with the idea that instead Of
being a union OF sovereign individuals the State
is itself the unit and individual men are merely
insignificant fractions.