The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-07
MORE INDUSTRIAL
SCHOOLS NEEDED,
GOVERNOR HEARS
Commission, in Annual Report,
Says Jersey Children Are Not
Equipped for Lies Battle.
1s6 A 80
.0S PER CENT NoTf1TTEDF0R
ANY PARTICULAR WORK
Large Demand for Skilled Me-
chanics and Craftsmen That
Can't Be Filled.

Advocating the establishment of more
Industrial schools, especially for young
workers who were unable to complete
the ordinary school education, the
Commission on Industrial Education. of
which George R. Howe. of this city, is
president, wal today submitted to Gov
ernor Fort at Trenton.
The declaration is made that SO per
cent. of the pupils in New Jersey pub
] lie schools leave their classrooms for
the workshop between the ages of Ia
and II years and hat a large percen-
tage of them drift into occupations for
which they are not fitted. Few can
hope to rise high, 1t is said, because
of the narrow limits to which they are
confined in their daily occupation.
In the course of its investigation,
carried over a period of several months,
the commission addressed inquiries
designated to bring out both the needs
and practical suggestions looking
toward the Improvement of conditions,
to employers and workers everywhere
in the State.
This correspondence was supple
mented by interviews with the repre-
~sentatives Of a large number of firms,
located in every section of the com
monwealth. Replies were received
from over two thousand firms engaged
in manufacturing, building or other
productive Industries in the State, and
employing upwards of $50, 900 workers,
male and female. The results of this
inquiry doubtless form the most com
prehensive collection that has ever been
made of authoritative statements as to
industrial conditions and needs in New
Jersey.
AS the result of it's investigation. the
commission finds that: THE appren-
ticeship system has been virtually
abandoned as a means of instructing
the young in the various trades; that
there is a lack of skilled and efficient
workmen which will be largely in
creased unless a better means of voca-
tional training is found; and that the
schools nave not been able to offer yo-
cational training.
05 Per Cent. UNITED.
Fully 50 per cent. of the pupils leave
school between the ages of IA and II,
and without Having formed any idea
as to what trade or vocation they
should follow" the report continues;
'in consequence, they drift into occu-
Tpations. rather than select those which
might be most nearly suited to their
aptitudes, and their progress is gen
orally arrested at an early g because
of the restricted character of their ex-
perience, and the failure to receive sup
Elementary instruction.
THE trades have become so special
lied that there is but little chance for
a learner to- go = beyond the narrow
limits of the work to which he is as
signed, unless he has supplementary
training. The workers, mechanics, or
craftsmen in the several trades are
deeply sensible of their lack of oppor-
tunities for vocational training during
the early years. and grown men among
them would gladly take advantage of
industrial schools. if these institutions
were established M
The replies received to the commits
sion's queries establish the existence of
an almost unanimous demand for more
industrial schools, and prompt. the COM
mission to make the following recon-
pendatiohs: =
"The commission unanimously urges
the introduction of such suitable forms
of industrial training as are demanded
by the several municipalities. The in
dustrial school, more than any other
type of educational institution, must
vary in scope and curriculum, accord
ing to the industries of the locality.
Manual training in the public schools
should be encouraged. especially up to
the completion of the compulsory at
tendance period.
More Industrial schools.
Industrial education, i. e., vocational
instruction, should be provided for
those who rave completed the .compul-
sorry attendance period, and who desire
to take up an Industrial. vocation at a
later time. There is most urgent neces-
sity for the establishment of Industrial
schools for those who leave the ordi-
nary school early in life, to go to work.
The records of the commission show
that approximately iye-sixths of those
who enter the lower grades of the ele-
mentary school drop out before the
completion of the eighth grade.
They drop out chiefly because of the
necessity of earning a livelihood. The
masses of these individuals cannot be
reached by any sort of a day voca-
tional school. They must get their
training in the evening, and the mum
Der of such is approximately 80 per
cent. of the total of individuals who
can be reached by any type of indus
trial school, which trains directly for a
vocation. A great difficulty in the or
ganization of Industrial schools of ele-
mentary grade, at present, is the lack
of vocational textbooks--both special
and elementary in character-as well
as the lack OF Instructors qualified to
undertake the very practical teaching
that is required
The commission is convinced that
the best results are to be achieved by
the establishment of a permanent'Stat
commission of industrial education,
with local boards of trustees, indepen-
dent of the present boards of education,
and appointed by the executive heads
of the various municipalities. The com
mission should have authority to com
pile and publish the necessary text
books, and to arrange4for lectures for
the promotion of Industrial education
The report, which is signed by George
K. Howe, William A. Bembridge, John
w. Ferguson, f. w. Roebling, jr., and
George G.. Remnant, as members of the
communication rlosps with the text nf "a