New-York tribune., 1910-01-24
RAILROAD NEED
,.nrC4TTON OF MEN.
,,,,, fer Practical Instruction
of Employees.

F-har railroad employ AOF every AnaA
core ..,ytce will not mean drudgery, nor
o t~ mar accidental opportunity, but an
sneos5 stimulating. highly efficient
ssie.'Nf - highest earning power. least un-
s''i0e from accidental causes. largest
csrs---. .o- individual initiative. entire self
ise- ard thoroughly democratic spirit
Fsstsss tbis preGiction J. Shirley Eaton, for
va. ..+,stic:an Of the Lehigh Valley Rail
re' loses q monograph for the United
ro~- p,,resu OF Education on Education
s,szcisncy IN Railroad Service" which
~ -;ssioner Elmer Z. Brown has sub
- "a the Secretary OF the Interior In
ra,,a- Of transmittaI Commissioner
saws the subject OF educational prep
- for definite occupations in life, and
~--;c.larIy for the trades. IS under seri-
.onsideratlon in the United States. The
-.,;on Of trade education 70 general edu-
- is one OF the important aspects OF
- nuestion. This relation was summed
40 President Nicholas Murray Butler OF
,sIumbia University. IN saying: What
s,ncs and practical life alike need is rot
r---ow men. but broad men sharpened to
he point
| x- Eaton's paper is, in part, as follows:
-hs advance made in the present decade
4. re subject Of education for railroad SER
= IS very surprising 10 those who may
- ne informed. Ideas OF practical men on
| - ssbiect are now less indefinite and con-
sS-srg The relation between education
- sTSciencv II railroad service Is coming
= be generally conceded The large edu-
~,,onal value Of the railroad service itself
= 5slug turned 10 systematic practical &C
k-r- and the value of educational agen-
- IN preparing Tor specinc industrial eff
Ssrrv is better understood
e5ls' r. railroad service in the United States
Ill shortly Te2c1 total OF Two million
- II is the largest anG most highly or
s--szad example OF associate effort in an
| ss19rh conspicuous for industrial and COM
-s-.iaI Concentration. Education in
I-os6 sense must always be a large factor.
Tfe most praCCca! and efficient railroad
-e1sger to-day IS now sQuarely up
s~sins1'' the problem which he is attack
= in one form or anOther-of education,
= himself his staff. the individuals IN the
~e5E ana file. and the rank and file as a
,Toie This is the last and highest and
-osr comprehensive stage OF the function
= administration II implies, for instance,
= sgger. resou-cefuI, self-resp pecting indi-
s1svssn throughout the working force,
ss-5rduated with a keen appreciation Of
- social character Of the work. which
fTr-esses itself II a loyalty not 10 per-
- OF z local group, but 10 the income
ss.7u-t Of ne railroad: nor yet TO one in
---1e account. but to the aggregate Of the
.--are accounts OF several years. These
--raue accounts, showing steady, healthy
r-aWrh over several years, become at the
- community. the stockholder and the
zHgidual eInploye-
4 NOTE OF WARNING.
note Of warning may at this time
ssem 70 be premature, but certain ten
ss-ries are already foreShadOWed which
s1gud not 20 unchecked. When the rail-
ID manager comes fully TO realize how
Is newfound tool OF education enables him
t5 shspe almost absolutely TO his purposes
iHe working body, there may arise the
6snger thar railroad specialization IN edu-
es10n be carried too far.
Y fhe railroads. when they come very
generally 10 instruct their employees. turn
freir back upon the professional teacher.
severely 6iVOrc-ng their work in subject
natter and in method from and at the
ssme tine substituting Il for the work
gf Tie regular esIa blished educational
agencies OF The grammar school and high
scao0l grades. the result can only be
Ehar the psychologist calls arrested de-
vslOument' for the learner.
Railroads as a whole, through a repre-
sentative body. such as the American Rail
Tay Association. should in e, comprehensive
way. take Up the matter Of the educa ton
0J railroad employees. As they now have
CCluir-eeS devoted 10 standards Of con-
struCfiGn. maintenance and operating prac-
tiee u1ey should also have standing COM
EfEee @ z character TO command conf
denee. Who should sedGlOusly foster a
closer relation between the railroad and
educational agencies.
sUGGESTIONs TO MANAGERS.
NJ Eaten makes these recommendations:
Railroad financial arrangements should
incorporate an educational scheme as q
O business prudence Such policies should
D naagurated for periods OF not less
laA lPe Years, preferaDly ten; otherwise
Wasted
Railroads should extend the principles Of
es1nIte apprenticeship 10 every department
m1h-rl
q more grades OF apprentices in order 10
axe account Of differences in capacity and
ElIk done elsewhere. either in properly
earedlted schools or by experience, and
Es1lng L different grades of service
There should be formal provision for
EsTemenL among departments under
l,aper conditions, and the comfy Of rail-
-l1os s1olc ne so lar extended as for
nslF 10 provide for some interchange Of
f1cls-s under special restrictions.
q executing the policy OF education an
1e-lceG Dy the directors, there should be
superintendent OF education reporting d.
lscly 70 higher official such superin-
tlaent 10 be thoroughly informed OF the
s-aceuonal policy Of the railroad and the
Goac considerations on which It rests His
tslsrEne--t should systematically recruit
= employees throughout the service and
u-l-F On request 10 their records and
tsleral efficiency IN the early stages of
s1hciency should be recognized by an ef-
ss--sneE wage. stated distinctly apart
--- ne seniority wage.
employees should be encouraged 10 take
outside courses OF instruction or expert
nc without forfeiting their tenure, and
= lsr a. possible. the educational DEPART
III should systematically turn 10 ac-
rs--t every outside educational agency by
s-ssestng courses. uniting in cooperative
.--ses and recognizing the work done in
- courses 10 the end that theory and
$.1e-ce re Joined
ale educational opportunities Of the ser
- should De utilized 10 the utmost by
- -iaeeiner- Of perfect freedom Of study
- - tIllclsm and Interchange Of ideas con-
stnlg accidents bad work and all the
-s-A ot practice. Annual or seuli-zunuaI
- -t-ss Or employees by classes of work
- - preparation and circulariza ton Of
Pepers ano discussions should be a feature