Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-05
NEED or INDUSTRIAL. rpUcAT,Sv

for her young sons and daughters, but
we are far behind some of our neigh
boring states in pushing this idea TO
practical application. Massachusetts
has gone so far as to create state
commission on industrial education and
that body has made reports which will
be Of interest in all sections of the coun-
try in which manual training has come
to be recognized as one OF tho pres
sing needs of American youth of the
present age.
The report recognizes at the outset
that at the present time in the United
states, mon are not being developed in
| the industries for the middle and lower
supervisory positions. AS has been
often pointed out of late. the trades arc
/ so much divided that even an able man
| in an industry has an opportunity. as
rule, to learn only ono branch or one
! department of his trade, such a man
| may hope to become the head of that
particular department If the industry
|
mcnt OF a superintendent for that par
! ticular department; but If the supervis-
| ing is done by a man who has charge
! of several departments, it is not only
! impractical but practically Impossible
under present circumstances, for him 20
! 1T himself for such a supervisory posi-
] { NJ. 4 i,,-
| possible for men in lower positions to
fit themselves for higher positions from
their shop experience alone.
There is a demand from the moro
energetic, earnest workers for an op-
portunity to learn the theory of their
trades in the particular sense of the
word This is shown by the large mum
bcrs who enter upon correspondence
school instruction. and by inquiries
made by workmcn of those who con-
duct evening courses for the employed
as well as by statements OF representa-
tives of labor. There are at present no
well planned courses in Institutions
tious men. II is the opinion Of the cor-
mission on industrial education, as tho
result of a long, intelligent ana earn
| est investigation, that an industrial
college, providing day and evening
courses for such individuals. would i'll
n long felt want. such schools have
| arl.p cd " ~ al %
countries. and this fact may in part
account for the assertion, often made
that very large percentage of the
foremcn in Massachusetts Industries
are foreign born and foreign educated
The Massachusetts commission is in
favor of what might be called primary
industrial schools, and it would have
these supplemented by other institu-
tons for higher industrial training. Ii
! Is interesting in this connection to note
that the representatives of nearly 1000
manufacturing concerns in the Bay
! state employing 100000 operatives
that were interviewed in relation to
or technical school furnished as their
consensus of opinion that such an in
Ytitution must necessarily assume QUO
80 two forms First. college to cary
on to a higher degree the courses com
mcncod in tho day industrial schools
which have been outlined in the corr
I 49, set
tuition TO give to men already employed
in tn" trades n wider range of know
edge ana a greater appreciation nj
the working principles Of their trades
Tho first type they do not favor, am
they give in general. three specific
reasons for this opinion: first. only :
very few men are naturally fitted t.
III the position OF foreman or super
intendent, and consequently the train
ing OF large numbers with that end ii
view would result in n low degree o.
efficiency; second, a man who has I,
give orders to other people should hay,
himself served in the ranks for tn.
H'"' WIZ 'dS il'l ObtNeU ORDERS SnoNl,
not be placed in position to Civ.
them; third, II n man should be traino,
with the idea OF filling foreman.
position, and on trial it was found tina
he was not suited to the work the ma
ural tendency would be for him t;
leave the rank. of that industry alto
Sether In other words, he would no
fall back gracefully to the position o
workman.
The second form of higher school
which has been designated the industrin
college, intended to instruct men al
ready trained in the shop, would, fl
the opinion of the manufacturers, mcc
the needs of the industries. Such a,
institution would take men who hav
shown their ability to handle mon, an,
who are at the same time skilled work
men, and would enable them to acqulr
the special knowledge which they nee
III order to understand more clearl
the theory which underlies their par
ticular trade.
1t Is to be noted in this connection
that 1t will probably be some time be
! fore Vermont is ready for higher in
2 dustrial school, but the time has plain
ly arrived when we should make som