The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-10-11
said Mr. Jones.
BETTER INDUSTRIAL
EDUCATION NEEDED.

EDUCATION NEEDED.
From Denver Republican. /:
The Massachusetts commission on
industrial education declares empnat-
ically in favor of trade or vocational
schools for boys to supply en educa-
tional need now felt because it is not
met in either the grammar or the high
schools of that state.
The commission points out that
boys as a rule are not wanted in the
trades until they are 16 years Old
and that hence from IA to 16 many
of them ARE at work in various kinds
of juvenile occupations, in which they
learn no trade, are subject to little
if any beneficial general education,
and often to much harmful education
from shifting experience and educa-
ton. Large numbers of these children
would be in school if the school prom
ised preparation for some life pursuit
These years are of little economic
value to such children, ami there is
little increase in the economic value
of most of them as time goes on.
Hence, these are al present wasted
years-lost to the children because of
lack of economic growth, and to the
industries because the children are
not fitted to satisfy the demand for
trained workers by the time they are
old enough to be employed in the
trades
The remedy is the establishment
of trade or vocational schools; and
the commission recommends in the
establishment of schools of this kind
mar course taken up to the age of IA
They would not conflict with the high
schools or the manual training schools
which would continue for the benefit
of children who might still prefer
them because of the purpose of later
years.
instruction in the proposed voca-
tional schools would be broad and lib
eral enough to equip pupils with
better knowledge of the trades than
they can acquire in private shops
where no instruction il tine theory
relation of the trades to allied indus
tries, is impaired. Every one knows
that thousands of excellent workmen
acquire practical knowledge of the
trades every year; but in a sense they
are self-made men. aid like most
deficient along lines which are of i'm
portance with reference to higher de-
velopment.
The great need of this and nearly
all other countries with the exception
of Germany is a larger number of
highly trained a1d skilled mechanics.
1t is needed in order that the United
States may take and maintain the
foremost place among the worlds in
dustrial nations.
Instead of opposing the establish
ment of vocational schools, the un-
ions composed of nyen employed in
the skilled trades should encourage
them in every possible way; for to
elevate the grade of labor is to give
it a more commanding place and in
sure for those engaged in it better
recognition in every way.
It will be fortunate both for the
cause of skilled labor and for the
country when a desire to excel imbues
all workmen in the higher trades. The
man who finds pleasure in his work
and takes pride in it, lifts it to the
level of an art; and it is workmen
of this kind VINO have wrought for
themselves and their country endur-
ing fame. Not every stone-cutter can
become Phidias, and yet it is the
artistic skill displayed in cutting
stone which forms large part of the
glory of ancient and Medieval archi-
lecture.