The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-05-20
FOR TRADE EDUCATION
How the Printers Union Teaches
Improved Typography.
THE INSTRUCTION SCIENTIFIC

Principles Of the Art Preservative Not
Taught In Workshops Impaired by
orrespondence-Great Success of
the Movement.
During the past two or three years
the American public has been treated
to much comment and suggestion on
the matter Of trade education. In the
industrial centers there are local So
c1eties actively promoting this object
while the National Society For the
Promotion Of Industrial Education is
designed to advance the interests of
the new idea in national way.
Meantime Americas oldest and most
progressive labor organizatiQn-the In
ternational Typographical union-has
formulated and launched n system OF
technical education that furnishes dis
play, job and all other compositors an
opportunity to acquire a knowledge of
the principles underlying good typog-
raphy which cannot be taught in
printing offices.
Owing to the diversified needs of its
nearly $4,000 members, including
printers In small country towns and
those in the largest metropolitan Of
fees, the union was compelled to
adopt the correspondence SYSTEM but
the instruction is impaired along the
lines of the best and most modern
educational methods.
The art schools have been levied on
for the benefit Of the working printer
The principles of design and color har-
mony are taught scientifically, the stu
dents applying them to practical work
done in type or by pencil sketches)
hn
petent Instructors. Heretofore educa-
ton in typography has been by the
empirical method, but the T. Il. U
course aims to show the "how" and
why Of good typography in scien-
titic manner. The student first masters
the underlying principles and then
solves the trade problems submitted
to him in the light of that knowledge
The Keynote Of the instruction is
round IN Ruskin's aphorism, Unity
and simplicity are the sources Of
beauty
The course is sold for 500, which
does not cover the cost OF outfit, tut
ton, postage. etc. AS purely com
mercial venture it would cost at least
$50, but the International union, in
order to stimulate and encourage the
study Of its art by printers, defrays
all advertising and other promotional
expenses out Of it's funds and in addi-
tlon gives Il rebate or prize Of So to
each student who finishes the lessons
with ordinary diligence and intelli-
gence. Many local unions supplement
this by offering additional prizes to
their members and apprentices work
Ing In union offices. 1t is estimated
that the total union expenditure on
az
between $4,000 and $4,000 year.
The I. 7. U. commission on suDple-
mental trade education. which has this
work In charge, promulgated it's first
advertisement asking for students in
March. 1DnS, and in a year has secured
an enrolment of more than 700. These
include expert printers as old as sixty
ana youths of seventeen and eighteen
The experienced compositors say they
find much In the course that is valua-
BILE, the first graduate being one Of
the highest salaried men working at
the trade
There have been schools OF typog-
raphy In continental Europe and Great
Britain for many years. the idea being
given its great stimulus in the latter
country by the many sided William
Morris. who did much to improve
but British employing printers who
have examined the l. II. q. course
methods of instruction, as well as the
secretary of the British Typographical
| union for many years n director of
Manchcstcr's famous Municipal Tech
! meal SCHOOL,, agree that in teaching
principles the international Typography
zeal union has started a revolution in
| trade education. These comments
have had their effect on across seas
craftsmen. While foreign students pay
considerably more than Americans and
| Canadians, there are several British
| Australian and South African print
ers taking the course One mail re-
Gently brought an application from
| Canada's most northerly province and
another from Bloemfontein, South
| Africa
The course is open to those working
/ at the printing trade, and the officers
| and interested members of the typo
graphical union are sure that it is but
beginning Of what is to become a
| prominent feature Of union work AL
ready the question has been advanced
| of making 4 study Of the course pre-
| requisite for an apprentices admission
to membership in the union The laws
| Will not be changed hastily. but there
Is no doubt that, now an opportunity