New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-30
WILL TRAIN MECHANICS
CITY SCHOOL OF TRADES.
TO Teach Boys as Workers an Wood,
Iron and Other Materials.

A public school that has exact parallel in the
United States will be free to the boys OF greater
New York. beginning the 18th Of next month
on that date the first vocational or trade school 10
be planned. equipped and conducted by me puoho
school authorities OF this city viii open 10 boys OF
mechanical tendencies. whose ages arc not less
than fourteen years The building will he known
rs Public School No. 100 and is now receiving
the finishing interior touches, ar 13Sth street ana
Fifth avenue.
Almost continuously since his election as city
superintendent, ten years ago. Dr. William ii. Max
well has patiently pleaded for the establishment OF
vocational schools. During this time he has mann
faned that good could be found TO JUSTIFY
the state I'm giving the pupil intending 20 devote
himself to a profession fitting preparatory eduoa-
tiOn while al the same time entirely neglectng 10
prepare his vocation the child intending 10 enter
upon industrial life II is believed the new school
win prove that education is indeed democratic.
Two other in the educational system who
have also been tireless in bringing about sue
cessful in this radical departure are Gus
Strauhenmuller associate city superintendent,
and Frederic r. Coudert, chairman Of the Com
rnittee on Vocational Schools and Industrial Train
sng. The other members Of that committee are
James p. Holland, Dr. Dennis ]. Mcdonald. Thomas
}. oDonahue and NJ J. sullivan. The principal az
the school is Charles J. Pickett, Th. D.
Fifteen years ago." said DIR. Pickett Yesterday.
mo educator of standing would have dared preach
.ndustrisl training in the public schools. do not
think it too much TO say now that there will he
IN this city within ten wears fifty such schools
based on this one.
There win he twenty-five men teachers. each
Of whom is a master mechanic. These men
have been chosen because they have mechanical
skill and personal enthusiasm inspire the boys.
continued Dr. Pickett: linen Of whom hoy will
ne proud 10 say I would like he like him. They
viii not he manual training teachers. hut in every
sense OF the word they will he mechanics.
STUDENTS AS APPRENTICES
I cont plan 10 turn boys who going 10
sake 5ouTneymen jobs. NV boys will be admitted
fourteen-yesr-ol hoy lis looked upon nuisance,
he is neither fish, fowl good red herring. The
ordinary school training has absolutely untitled
him. particularly II he has had no manual training
4 aim TO impress the boys with the dignity OF
labor. ] hope have them realize that there need
he distinction between the CRIME and soil Of
she shop and the instincts Of the gentleman. After
an. the mechanic is the backbone 81 rhis countrys
progress. and in the very OF things the
Won must progress in direct ratio the intelli-
sence and skill Of it's workmen"
Various equipments Of the best quality and de-
sign rapidly being installed in the handsome
building for the Of those boys who enter
The course. In wood. the pupils viii learn car
uentry. 1oinery, wood turning. pattern making and
the manipulation of milling machinery. In metal
they will have forge work sheet metal work and
complete line OF machine shop work. There will
also he courses in PLUMBING. printing. architectural
and mechanical drafting, including the making Of
plans and the drawing up of specifications and blue
prints.
The non-vocs tionsl subjects that wifi occupy less
shan one-fourth of the students time viii include
trade mathematics. elementary bookkeeping, indus
trial history ciVicS industrial and commercial GeoE
rsphv and English. Every topic that is intro
siuoed" said DR. Pickett will be tested in terms
Of its efficiency as correative Of the vocational
subjects. ] shall want my boys 10 know the is
of history more than the was. want them 10
re good mechanics. The intelligent mechanic is an
intelligent citizen"
The hours vii he from a. .. IN. The
atmosphere Of the school will be the atmosphere Of
The shops. The boys be led 10 feel that they
are working in environment closely approximate
ins that of a we'll conducted shop. This will mean
radical breaking away from ordinary school meth
DDS and conditions.
The instruction will be mainly individual: mass
work" will have no place in this venture and
pupil will be compelled 10 mark time. IL is said
because Of the inability of his fellows keep pace
with him. Dr. Pickett described the difference be
fween the aim OF the manual training schools and
the vocational school follows
DIFFERS FROM MANUAL TRAINING.
The manual training is not 10 give a boy mas
tory of tools; it is simply an added appeal in the
line Of general culture. The vocational teaching
idea aims specifically TO give mastery OF tools"
DR. Maxwell said recently that DR.. Pickett was
the hest qualified man in the country to occupy
the position of principal Of this school. Thirty
seven men competed for the place last spring. The
examination both written and oral Only three
candidates were able 10 obtain marks high enough
40 permit of their being considered by the Board
az Examiners. DR.. Pickett received fraction less
1han s. per cent. the next man getting a mark
&C.
The new principal is about forty years old. and
was born in New York City. He graduated
from the mechanical course at City College and
took the degree OF Bachelor OF Science. He then
took postgraduate work at New York University
where he obtained The degrees Of Bachelor OF Arts
Master OF Pedagogy, Doctor OF Pedagogy and Doc
Tor OF Philosophy. He also graduated from the