Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-01
FACTORY EDUCATION.
Schools for the Training Of Mechanical
Operative Not Mere Theory.

FROM Public Opinion.
one OF the main faults with the factory
system, which is responsible for so many
or our economic Ills is its breakdown when
IL comes to training young men to take
positions requiring more or less executive
AFFINITY. On the other hand the brea kdown
Oh our school system which is training an
m.IeileGtuai proletariat' has been pointed
out by President Hadley of Yale. The even
ing school and the correspondence school
dHofd some opportunity for the ambitious
young man to learn trade and develop
10 a degree executive capacity
From these ambitious and energetic voune
men ana those who continue their regular
schooling in preference to entering an IN
dustry prematurely the material for expert
eGperihtendence of the remaining submarg-
ca mass OF workers must be drawn" says
y. M: Becker in an article In Machinery
on Factory Education" But the avail
ape supply no longer equals the demand.
Most managers have experienced the difii-
cuIty or getting the right man for the
place especially if the place were one re-
curing considerable knowledge Of the bust
ness as whole. An industry is lacking
III some respects II 1t cannot to a. consid-
erabie extent train up the men who are
Iatef 10 be the directing forces in it. Most
businesses are not now doing it. Nor, on
the basis of present systems Is 1t possible
10 be done P
There are evidently two methods of at
tack, In the solution OF this problem. in
\. SAiS faculties TOT Industrial and tech
N-cai education. that is, for the adeuuate
training OF workers for their work: and a
inoditcauon OF the piecework system of
labor. The latter may be neglected in this
discussion for the reason that as yet there
appears TO be at hand no practicable sub
stftute that Is economically as satisfactory
There remains then the other alternative
that or education. Factory education or
perhaps better stated, the education Of fac
tory operatives. is not an untried theory of
the idealist Level-headed men have long
seen the economic necessity for something
OF the sort, and as long ago as the time
OF Robert Owen factory schools were more
or less effective agencies in the develop
ment of certain industries.
THE old apprenticeship system, inefficient
as 1t was from the modern point of view.
was one manifestation OF the idea, and
powerful factor IN the promotion of in
dustrial progress. Its wastefulness of
time and the development of the specialized
machine tool have led to its practical dis
appearance, unfortunately leaving no or
Ganized means for the accomplishment Of
Its purposes In its stead. A few far-sighted
employers of large interests, to their great
advantage as they stoutly maintain have
retained the apprenticeship system in a
modified form. and make IL part Of an edu-
catfonal system conducted along with and
as a part of their manufacturing plants
The Baldwin Locomotive works the
Browne & Sharpe Manufacturing Company
the General Electric Company and r. Hoe
& Company may be mentioned as notable
examples in this country. The school con-
Quoted at the Hoe printing press works
for more than thirty years, has developed
to such an extent that 1t Is recognized as
one Of the leading private trade schools
In the country. From ii go out, usually
after some years additional service with
the company. men who take responsible
positions in manufacturing plants all over
the country