Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-07-11
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Woodbury. High SCHOOL,
From the days Of Tubal. Cain, men have
been mighty workers in brass and iron, be-
coming more skillful in every generation.
Marvellous objects were they able to pro-
duce, the like Of which has never been seen
by us. Each king had his special artifcer
who designed and manufactured the arms
and trappings carried by his royal patron.
These men were trained from boYhood,
spending long years in preparation until
they had completely mastered every detail
Of their trade.
| To-day, cry is heard through this vast
American nation for skilled workmea-
workmen who know their trade and who
can compete with those Of any other coun-
! try of the world.
! Everything must be done to nicely, the
consumer demands it and consequently the
demand for men who can accomplish this
is increased
| There are men everywhere who would
gladly ill these positions, but they are en-
tirely incapable of complying with the de-
mands Of the work. II these men had suf-
fcient training they naturally would be
competent: but they lack the fundamental
training that goes to make capable work.
man. Thus the demand is not diminished
but rather increased.
Tharo ORC savara raayoue o,ra,, For {h;s
deplorable state of affairs. One is that the
average American youth imagines he has
a respectability that will be greatly injured
if he takes any position that may be called
. menial. This erroneous idea should be dis
carded by any fair-minded person who
knows that labor digniies and does not
degrade.
The most fundamental cause for this lack
of skilled labor originates in the order
issued by the labor organizations prohibits
ling the employer from hiring more than a
certain number Of apprentices.
The foreigners coming into this country
have in way filled these gaps; but, being
OF different temperament from the native
American, are unable to keep up the
speed that is demanded.
The fault is, in way, with the employer,
as he should endeavor to do all that lies in
his power to secure and keep good work
men. He should modeInize his buildings,
provide proper ventilation and clean work
shops, and above all, he should take a per-
sonal interest in his employees, and more
| especially in his apprentices, for whom he
should pay the highest possible price.
But, even if this were so, it does not
seem to be sufficient inducement to the
young men and women OF to-day. They
prefer to take position in an Office or store
at a small salary and smaller chance of ad-
vancement. A banker put an advertise
ment in one of the leading newspapers for
boy at three dollars week at the same
time the manager Of printing house put
an advertisement in the same paper for a
boy to learn the printing trade, at FIVE dol
lars week. One hundred boys responded
to the bankers notice, while four answered
the printers.
The position in the bank, although at a
smaller salary, had greater appearance of
responsibility than that Of the printing
house.
This respectability appeals to a large
class Of the young people of to-day, who
forget that it is the man and not the work
that makes the gentleman.
Since these young people are the future
American citizens, and the good of the
American nation depends upon them. they
should be brought face to face with this
proposition.
The Manual Training School is very
good, but it is really only a preparatory
school for the ideal Trades School. This
i Technical School is the only real solution
of this problem. In this school, the stu
dent would be taught under actual work
ing conditions the entire rudiments and
practices of specific industry. After he
had successfully passed through the theory
and actual shop practice Of one end of the
business, he would go to another end and
at the completion Of one or two years the
student would then be thoroughly posted
in the methods and practices Of his chosen
trade.
| At this time he could enter shop ard
be classed as what is technically called .
two thirds,n which means that the em-
Iployer has secured a man who can carry on
his own particular branch, and who is also
acqu ainted with the theory and practices q
the other parts Of the trade.
But the question arises, how could sucE
q school be esta blished ? The expense mus
be borne by someone, and who would de
/ so?
i The wide political influence Of the labol
organizations prohibits the State from put-
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