The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-07-04
TRADE SCHOOLS Will
benefit AL CLASSES.
Advocated by Labor Commission
er Williams in the Interest Of
the Rising Generation.
Present School Methods and
Teachings Need to Be Supple
mented by Manual Training.

At the Winona session Of the Min
nesota State Federation Of Labor Hon.
w. H. Williams, State Labor Commits
sioner, presented the following very
instructive article on the subject of
Manual Training and Trade Schools.
We are very sure our readers can
peruse it with profit. The questions
discussed are live issues, and few
men are better equipped to discuss
them intelligently than Mr.. Williams:
The Subject Introduced.
> TN addressing you today I will en-
deavor to tell you something about 'the
Manual Training and. Trade Schools
of this country. That this question
has it's friends and enemies in the or
gained labor movement there seems
difference Of opinion.
But shall not hesitate to tell this
intelligent body of organized labor
delegates, coming from every part Of
the great commonwealth Of Mime
sofa. and representing nearly every
trade known to the civilized world, my
opinion in regard to this subject,
which is agitating not only organized
labor, but the school authorities and
the general public as we'll.
Il do not stand for these schools,
for what good it might do me, but on
the other hand I stand for them for
plish for the children of you, my
friends, and the benefits that may be
derived from them for the sons and
daughters Of every laboring man in
the1 world. =-->i:> ~"
= r. have not, reached this decision
through any selfish motive, but from
a long and thorough study: Of the sub
ject.:: I: have. come to- the conclusion
that manual training is the best tor
the boys and girls who have to earn
their living as trade .zt'e IS or me-
chanics.. = ;:....>>.., .'' ''" ~
Tribute to Organized Labor. ~: !:
"That organized labor has been the
advance guard in the education :. Of
the public as to the great evil Of child
labor, no one can gainsay, and that
the results are being shown. every day
no one denies. -.-.> -.
Nov, my friends, did the organized
labor forces put up this grand fight for
the children Of America from selfish
motive or because they thought they
We're fighting for: the benefit 'oT MAN.
kind. for the future men and women
of. this country? It is my belief, and
I believe every delegate at this con-
ventfon has the same thought: that it
was for the benefit of humanity and
not from an yselfish ,notive: 49,, c..;s
iorIo$ tn, %Sc<
In that regard, I would ask Wha
does organized labor propose to do
with the: boys and girls that we are
taking out OF mines, Factories. works
shops and off the streets of our. cities
Is 1t not the intention to send them
to school? Then, if we are to send
them to school, why not have schools
In which they can learn how to use
their physical as we'll az their mental
Abilities; If they use their hands they
are bound to use their brains, and the
manual training school is Just the
place for them. -.
What School Statistics, Show. .,r,
''school statistics show that only
about thirty per cent ot the. pupils
that go through the eighth grade of
school ever attend the high school, and
that less than ten per. cent Of those
who attend the, high school. ever at
tend the university. II such is the
case, and we have no reason to doubt
the assertion of the school authorities.
then surely there is something, radi- :
:cally wrong, with our school System Of
today, and /, believe that. what :: we
need is more: of the kind OF methods
and teachings that VIII appeal. to the
child .:o:.>.,:- . ....- :.
''That manual training appeals to
the, child there can be no, doubt, for
that is why SO many Of our boys and
girls prefer. to- go to work instead OF
going to sch DOL; they want to learn
something besides what they can gair
frofns books. We all know that there
are thousands Of boys and girls who
will never be able to be educated peo.
pie from the. stand point OF a liter.
airy education, but some of those same
children can be educated in mechani.
cal trades or other vocations so that
they would be better able to take their
places among toilers Of this country
and be successful artisans and me-
L cAAA1t~o' aAu US dOlo TO make better
bread winners than they can today by
going into the factory or workshop
where the wheels Of industry are
grinding away from morning unit
! night. What chance has the boy O,
girl to get an education, whose parents
or guardians are so short sighted as
to place them at work to learn q
trade before they are sixteen years OF
age, in any Of the great n1anufactur-
ing industries Of our country? They
are put there to learn the trade and
not to get an education, and the thrift.
ty manager Of these industries see tc
1t that they are Kept busy, not part 81
the time, but all the time. :.
Mistaken. Visws Explained. "
THE, opposition to the manua
training school among organized la.
labor is based upon the theory thai
| 1t is school run in the interest q
the Manufacturers J. Association q,
Citizens Alliance, to teach the bow,
and girls how to work at the different
trades, so that they will. be able, i,
case Of strike in any OF the manu-
! Histories OF this country: to get rel,