Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-14
ScH0OL:EDR INDUSTRY
Freeport; ILL.,, Trying a Trade Be-
tween Factory and Lessons.

The Citizens Commercial association
Of Freeport, ILL.,, has, in connection
with the school board. brought about
an innovation in industrial education.
The plan adopted is to permit students
in the high school to work one-half
of the time in factories.
The boys work in pairs, one boy in
the factory, one week and in high
school the, next week. the other boy of
the pair alternating is, the boy in
school this week goes to the factory
on Saturday afternoon and takes the
been doing all the week SO that he
can take it up quickly Monday morn
ing without eencroaching too much
upon the time of the foreman. The
boys are paid 10 cents an hour the
first year, II cents the second year and
1914 cents.the third year. and they are
given full credit for their work IN
high school.
Good Progress Made In School.
1t is said. that boys working in this
way pass their examinations as cred
itably as those spending their full time
in SCHOOL. Theireasons given are that
because Of their factory experience
their minds are. more receptive and
they comprehend the school work
quickly. Then they have their even
ings to prepare recitatons, and as only
the more, ambitious boys. elect such
course they make good progress.
The plan pleases the boys because
1t gives them chance to work with
tools and tos earn something. Most
boys when. they arrive at the age of
fourteen years wish. to earn their own
money. This gives them an .opportu-
nifty to do SO and to remain in school
at the same time. It pleases the moth
ers because. while they appreciate the
necessity Of the boys going to work,
they feel that IT is rather tender age
to tie them down to hard work every
day.
1t pleases the fathers because they
feel that the boys ought to be engaged
In some productive employment, while
still they desire them better prepared
intellectually. 1t pleases the manu-
facturers because 1t provides boys
who have brains and ambition beyond
the average. for only the more ener-
getic boys will choose course Of this
kind.
It pleases the school board because
1t keeps boys in school for the four
year period. something that is very
difficult to do. It pleases the labor
organizations by helping the boys who
need help most.
1t is beneficial to the boys in another
way. If a boy don't go to work when
be- is about fourteen years old he be-
comes too proud or too lazy to work.
1t is well known fact that the most
important business men were brought
up to work when they were young;
that large proportion Of tramps and
irresponsibles are recruited from vii
lagos where boys have no chores to
attend to before school and nothing
to do after school.
Interest In the Homo Hearth.
Still another object is to bring q
closer relation between the high school
and the manufacturing interests Of
Freeport for the purpose Of interesting
the boys in their home city instead of
pointing them away to some other city
as soon as they leave school The
plan will help to solve the apprentice
difficulties. while. directing the minds
OF the brightest boys along mechan-
ical lines% something after the plan Of
the German, educational system.
The general plan is for the boys to
start work{inithe factory II vacation.
They choose the factory that suits
them best, and the employers try them
ont. The boys try. the work to learn