Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-19
UNIVERSITY
TEACHES TRADES
University Extension Offers Substi'
tutes for the Old Apprentice
ship System.

Until a generation ago the young
men who were trying TO learn trades
were apprenticed to men who had be
come successful in the calling, and
were given definite instructions by
these men in return for their work.
During the last few years the system
of apprenticeship has been abandoned
and the results have been disastrous
in many ways. Young men have often
gone into shops and commenced work
at machines and have remained at
these machines until they became
merely automatonS, and were beyond
the age when they could learn new
lines OF work easily. There has been
a constant complaint on the part of
manufacturers that they could obtain
plenty of unskilled, cheap labor, but
found it difficult to obtain as much
skilled labor as they needed.
When it has been necessary in many
great shops to secure foremen, the EN-
blowers have had to go to other shops
or to technical schools for help. This
has made the workmen dissatisfied
and in many cases they have felt that
IDelE SlllIDION els NClC IlOI lIltltSlCti III
their welfare, when in reality the EN-
pioyers would have been glad to pro
mote men from the ranks of their
employees if they could have afforded
to do so.
Practical instruction Given.
Under the system established and
maintained by the University of Wis
cODsin through its Extension Division
these men are regularly taught by in
structOrS who not only have the tech
nical knowledge. but who have also
had practical experience in shop work
and know the conditions, and who have
developed ability as teachers. When
one of these instructors goes to visit
a class in large shop he spends a
half day in the plant. He goes from
one student to another and watches
his work and gives him suggestions
which will make him a better work
man. When he finds that Il young man
has learned all he can at one machine
or at one line Of work he goes to the
office and suggests to the employer
that two men who have each acquired
all they can at the machines or work
which they are doing shall exchange
work When he finds d young man
who gives evidence Of some of the
qualities of leadership he suggests tC
the employer that they give him u
somewhat more responsible position
He also aids the young men by loan
ing them books and Journals for col
lateral reading, and does all in his
power to stimulate ambition, and tC
show them that by wider education
they can secure better opportunities
y lis personal contact of a strong man
with the students as individuals, and
in their classes aided by the stimulus
given by their class room work III
spires an altogether different attitude
toward their studies from that shown
by the isolated student of the ordinary
correspondence schools The best evil
denCe of the value of this work is
given by the enthusiasm of the stu
dents and employers.
Valuable Bulletins Published.
Among the methods used by the Uni
versity Extension Division of the Uni
verSity of Wisconsin to disseminate
valuable information among the people
in all parts of the state, is the publ
cation of bulletins, monographs, and
circulars upon subjects Of great prac-
teal value which have been investi
gated by the members of the faculty
or by the various departments OF the
general government, or the state gov
eminent, or even by foreign govern
ments. The information gathered
from all or any Of these sources by
the University of Wisconsin is care
fully summarized in compact and
popular form and published in Il bulIe
tin for free distribution among the PEG
pie to whom it will be helpful.
Comparatively few Of these bulletins
have yet been published, but large
number are in process of preparation
Something of the range of knowledge
which these bulletins will cover is
shown in the titles of those already
issued: Debating SOcieties-Organiza-
ton. Procedure; Prevention and Cure
Of tuberculosis; FrOsts in Wisconsin,
Occurrence. Prediction, Methods of
Protecting Crops; Method Of Resusci-
tating People Partially Drowned, or
Suffering from Electric Shocks; Meth,
DDS Of Protecting Trees Against DIS,
eases; The FiTelesS Cooker
This method Of disseminating infOr'
nation is used in connection with The
lectures on practical subjects which
are given by University professors i'll
various parts of the state. For in
stance when a lecture is given upon
tuberculosis. and the means of prevent,
ing and curing it. a very practical
brief circular is put into the hands Of
each one who attends, which states
briefly the rules and methods which
should be followed by person who Is
healthy or wishes to guard against in
lection, the rules of conduct for one
who already has the disease, and for
members of families and communities
in which tuberculosis patients are re-
siding