Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-09-01

INVESTIGATE
EDUCATION
< MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION
REPORTS
INSPECT TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
OF EUROPE
Body Pays Special Attention to Study
Courses, Manner Of Conducting
Institutions and Teachers
Opinions

The committee which was sent by the
Massachusetts commission on industrial
education to investigate certain indus
trial educational conditions in some of
the most important European countries,
and which consisted of Charles H. Win
slow member of the commission, and
Charles II. Morse, the secretary and
executive officer, has brought back most
interesting and valuable reports on what
it has found by observation and personal
inquiry.
The information gathered includes not
only an account of the various schools at
present in operation, both as regards the
courses of study and the administration
and financing, but embraces as well the
views of some of the foremost authori-
ties on industrial education, together with
the attitude of both employers and en-
ployes toward the instruction provided
by numerous schools operated by means
of state local and municipal subsidies
and by private funds
A very important element in this IN
vsetigation was the obtaining at nrst
hand of the opinions of those qualified TO
Judge concerning the effects of the plans
at present in operation for giving indus
trial education to the youth OF both sexes.
English Subsidies
While in England there are national
subsidies and consequently nationai con-
troll of industrial education, yet the local
conditions vary enormously, and no one
place will stand as a representative ex-
ample of the whole country, or even OF
any extended section of it. There can
he no doubt. however, as to the national
and local awakening to the need of in
dustrial education; but the existing social
conditions which have to be met and
which are not only peculiar to England
hut to the separate localities, will make
progress slow and experimental 1t seems
to be q fact however that in general
the Industrial education movement Is
most active and furthest advanced In
London.
Tn Liverpool. with its great technical
school which cost upward of half mil
lion dollars, the conditions are most IN
teresting There are 1900 pupils in the
evening classes, but, except for some
special sumter classes of adults, TINS
finely constructed and well equipped
building is unoccupied during the day
time. largely, perhaps. because it is feared
that DAYTIME Industrial instruction would
interfere with the regular public schools
by prematurely attracting pupils from
them.
s1,5oo,ooo School
The famous Manchester School of Tech.
nology was visited, and, as was to be
expected of sach an industrial city as
Manchester. this school was found to be
housed in magnificent building, which
cost 81 100000, and run on a correspond
ingly large scale. The enormous running
expenses are paid in part by the state,
in part by the city ana IN part py SUI
dents, fees
London seems to be fairly well provided
with polytechnic schools of the class OF
those in Manchester and Liverpool. Its
provisions for elementary technical edu-
cation assume enormous proportions
II was evident on all sides that the
working conditions in England are quite
different from those in this country, ana
even from those on the continent. The
moor mans chance for education, not
only in Liverpool section, but elsewhere,
NAV be briefly summed up thus Free
elementary education; fairly cheap sec
ondary education; competitive scholar
ships for advanced education.
The committee entered France by way
of Boulogne, where the trades school was
visited as representative of the trades in
struction in smaller French cities. Here
II was found sthat the mayor is in charge
Of the public schools, as well as of other
municipal departments. In the latter
country the schools are housed in new
buildings, and the evening schools for ap-
prentices seemed most popular. In
France. on the contrary. the schools oc-
cupy older buildings. and there is cor
responding settled atmosphere to the IN
struction In France. too. the pupils be-
gin their trade studies as early as 10
wears of age. and the training received
has thoroughly recognized value in
francs. The French schools are con-
Quoted on much more formal lines than
in England and some Of the Paris schools
draw upon the various departments of
France as we'll as upon Paris for their
pupils. The high character OF the work
IN French schools Is particularly notice
able-even that done by the youths whose
ages do not exceed Is years
Art an Aim
decided tendency of these schools is
to educate the pupils ar1iEtdcally as wen
as in skiIfuI manipulation
IN many Of the schools ifl Paris a mid
day meal is provided. al the modest price
~ Ia cents. which incluGes a course din
ner and a bottle Of wine THIS = s'gnili-
cant of the care taken q the health OF
the pupils.
st,,died At Geneva Berne and Zurich,
each of which had its own Fpeeialfies 10
offar In Geneva ths Neurological school
occupies a foremost position During the
summer months the hours Of instruction
are from to s. ana ~ Nne NlltSI ruin
70 4. with an hour and a half Of free
dom in the middle Of the day During
The year only four weeks vacation is
allowed. Many workmen Of extraordin-
arv skill are developed by this school
The apprenticeship school in Berne has
four departments. which offer instruction
N the trades of machinsts, cabinet max
ing. locksmithing and tinsmithing. The
expenses are borne by the city, the Can
Ton of Berne the Swiss Federation and
the sale of the prodnucts of the school.
Tuition is free to Swiss pupils who must
be over fifteen years Of age and possess
an elementary school education.
In Zuirc.i the epense of the present
system is divided as follows: The can
ton contributes 10000 francs and the fed
eral overnment from $4,000 to 100000
francs.
In Switzerland an ordinary day laborer
receives 3 francs day, tinsmith 81.
francs, and a machinist ordinarily
francs and in some cases 8 or francs
In general, the Swiss workmen receive
more than those in France or Germany
the average. pay being Slls francs week
Attendance Compulsory
BY the new law for apprentice instruc-
ton which was voted on by the voters