The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-07-16
NEW IDEA IN
EDUCATION
The International typographical
Union Becomes a School Teacher
Most Progressive of Trades
Unions.

In the printing trade the letters
y. T. u" are significant of much.
1t is the diminutive and easy way
of referring To the central union OF
the typesetteIs, which is the Oldest
of American trade unions, and
whose methods aud policies have
had 4 noticeable influence on the
Workings of the other unions.
The international Typographical
Union has kept pace with the pro
gress of the trade and has, it is
claimed, nearly fifty thousand
members. These embrace the
most skilful artisans, many of
whom display n keen interest in
economic, sociological aud techni-
cal subjects. In such an atmos-
phere it was natural that the de.
cadence of the apprenticeship sys-
TEN and its woeful results should
be ventilated, and by those who
are thoroughly acquainted with
the subject-the victims of the
system. Though creditable to
their ability-and energy, it is not
surprising that as result of such
discussion and knowledge there
should be evolved a system of
trade education that is unique and
promises to effect almost a revolu.
ton in the trade.
The union found that there was
an insistent demand for better
printing. and coeXistent with it
trade conditions made it more and
more difficult to compositors to ac-
quire thorough knowledge of +
their trade. This resulted in the
employment OF designers, or COM
mercial artists, who draft and SUI.
perviSe much of the best work now
turned out of printing Offices.
What they do is not "art,'' so
much as craftsmanship, which is
acqulreable by the average artisan.
Ihe printers union admits a more
productive machine may compel
compositorS to stand aside, but it
possesses too much craft pride to
concede that mere men shall make
compositors take a back seat in
printing offices-provided the COM
positors have the opportunity to
learn the craft that makes the dc.
signer factor. 1t truth, to COM
blne the designer and printer in
one persone is an economical pro-
ceedlng, which will lead to better
printing.
This thought found fruition in
what is known as the 81. It. U.
Course in Printing" which not
only covers the ground which has
heretofore been in the field of ed
ucaters in printing, but, as far as
possible, equips the student with
the information the commercial
artist uses-lettering, designing
color harmony, ETC. But the
Union does not stop here. 1t pro.
poses to invade the art schools and
schools of design and ask them to
prepare lectures on their special
ties containing such clements of
art and craftsmanship as the
printer finds useful in his every.
day work. This is applying the
law of specialization to craft in
struction. AS has been said, the
Course covers the same grounds as
other methods of instruction, but
having been schooled in the princi
pies mentioned, the student can
make more out of the information
than he otherwise could. Tho
lessons are of themselves
valuable to the student, but he
will send specimens of his work to
the I. T. U. Commission at 100
Sherman street, Chicago, Illinois.
where they will be examined and
criticized by experts, and it is in
those criticisms the student will
find veritable Pierian spring for
his topographic muse.
There is no thought of profit in
connection with the Course. 1t is
offered at Approximately cost price.
but in order to encourage study of
this character the international
Typographical Union will award n
rebate of 50 to each student who
pursues the Course with diligence
and fair degree of intelligence.
Some local unions supplement this.
and employers have also intimated
their intention to encourage their
employees to take the Course
The union adopted this method of
giving large number of prizes in
stead of few to the extraordiparv
expert in order to assist tho aver
age mantle one who suffers