Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-20
TRADE SCHOOLS

MILWAUKEE, famous for beer and
VH as being the home of Ex-Governor
AAA George w. Peck bids for greater
and higher laurels in her act of estab-
fishing schools of trade in the public
school system. Recently The Herald
advanced arguments to prove such
schools were needed, and that the lack
of them caused the failure in life of
thousands of men who were crammed
with pedagogy, but underfed on help
full, practical knowledge.
Proof of the general interest in The
movement is found in the great cores
pondence from people in many states
seeking information. These requests
come mainly from the manufacturing
districts of New York. Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine,
Pennsylvania and California, and many
other states are working on the plan.
Like all other good things this school
had to come through troublous seas
before it could succeed. Some good cit
izens who saw the crying need for it
took the matter to the Merchants and
Manufacturers association, and that
body, its members driven to anxiety
to obtain capable help, took the matter
up, and of their own volition estab-
lished the school. It's fame spread, and
its usefulness grew till it became q
Mecca for intelligent educators from al
lands; and, finally a people willing tC
be known as great in the sale of beel
took over the school into the public
school department, and now the people
have law Incorporating trade-t train
ing in all the schools of the state. :
From President Roosevelt, down
through the several grades of profes-
sors and teachers who make public
opinion on this subject, it has beer
agreed that in Industrial education lies
the hope of this country to retain
commercial supremacy; for the reason
that the nations likely to contest thai
prize with us have all instituted such
schools, and jealously guard them.
Some caviling critics have raised the
cry that organized labor would suffer
from the output of these schools. The
best answer to such a criticism is tC
cite the fact that all the trades OF
Milwaukee have taken pains to be.
friend the school, and undoubtedly
such action will follow wherever they
may be organized.
Go to the Los Angeles high schoo
any day it is in session, and note the
scores of young men from 16 to q
Years of age, soon to bid goodbye tt
schools and seek fortune in the world
Not one in ten ever handled tools, o.
did aught that could be turned to ad
vantage in pursuit of livelihood
Those of them-always the majority
who may not seek the higher schools
go, handicapped into the battle of
sport Of circumstance, growing poorei
and less self-reliant till, as is often thu
case, they sink to the level of {
ne'er-do-well and become a burdeI
where they might have been a bless
ing. If they had been taught use
full trade in the higher gramma
grades, and had been perfected in tina
teaching in the high school years
they might command good wages flon
the start, and in no measure hur
their chances for any advancement il
the professions that cane TO them
they would be wage-earners at tn
beginning, and source of supply t,
the skilled labor market that coul,
ieaven and elevate the great mass o
labor. and Mt IT for intelligent treat
,nent OF the great problems soon t
come to 1t.
There are laurels and deserve,
praises for the legislator who will inau
gurate state action on this vital prob
lem in California, as the time and nee
are both ripe for action. The Poly
technic high school of Los Angeles i
doing excellent work in this line. Tha
institution needs and doubtless wi
receive the support of all good citi
zens. Probably no more capable ma
than Prof, Francis could be found a
the head Of any similar institution /
the United States. We need more {
these schools in outlying cities wheI
the sons of the workers may receiv
manual educations which will enabl
them TO have fair start on the indus
trial field when they are graduate
from the schools.