Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-02-10
ELEMENTARY
ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
University Extension Division aids
Unframed Workers in Plants
Using Electricity.

Inc DEVELOPMENT Of practical work
with electricity during the past gen,
Grafton has been marvellous. In all
parts Of the country manufacturing
plants aud traction companies have
been demanding the slvlces OF men
who had "a knowledge of the methods
which this mysterious force follows
and tie practical uses to which il may
be put
So few men have been trained in
electrical eng. neering. however. that
all these plants uare found ii neees,
sary to employ many men who wee
not fully prepared and educa ed for
their work. These young men, drifting
into the establishments from the
smaller shops. from farms. and from
the schools. have been handicapped
by the lack of preparatory education
and training and have not done the
service for themselves or for Their
employers that was satisfactory aad
desired, They haze simply had to
commence at the simplest mechanical
work and to follow it day by day.
frequently until it Became mCnotonous
and irksome, without tie hope OF
promotion.
In order to aid young men Of this
class. and 10 aid employers. the Uni-
versity Extension Division of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin is instructing
the wOrkmen in electricity in Wiscon-
sin by very practical methods Its
course is based upon this thought
that If the fundamental processes
underlying manufacturing processes
are better understood, the work Of the
employees ceases to be drudgefy.
That the workman who follows the
daily routine intelligently becomes an
cduCltpd man and is of much greater
ser ice to his employer and to tile
state. IS well as TO himself and to his
family.
In order to train the Dechanic TO
better work, the Correspo' e Study
Department Of the Uni' ersity Exten-
sion Division, gives tie workman a
course Of stady adapt ID TO his needs
by correspondence. : gives him the
privilege Of an occasional personal
interview and class room work with
his instructor SO that he may be in
spired to follow the course with inter-
est. and aided 10 pursue it without
being discouraged by the obstacles
NHlfu lEc'l NeENiN utld3 IiiS paDSitoS
of the student who is not trained to
technical study. In many cases the
work done in this course may be sup
planted by study at the University in
the shops and laboratories of the en-
cheering college. As an illustration
of the methods which are used. the
course in Magnetic and Electric Cir
cults may be taken. This deals with
the principles of magnetism and elec-
triclty. The fundamental laws are
developed in their simplest form. The
course aims to give the student clear
conception of the physical properties
of these subjects, a conception which
is essential in any study of electrical
operations, or in the operation of any
electric machinery.
In this. as in all other courses, prac-
tical problems are given to fix princ-
PIES effectively in mind There are
thousands Of young men in Wisconsin
whose earning capacity would be
greatly increased if they would take
this course in connection with their
daily work. giving to study but one
or two hours each day. The benefit
derived from this kind of work is APP
preciated by many employers in the
state, and they are aiding the EXten-
sion Division in bringing the posi-
bilities Of this system of education to
the attention Of their workmen.