Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-26
TRADE SCHOOLS
URGED TO SOLVE
LABOR PROBLEM
Commission Points Out Great
Advantage of Industrial
Education.
[rrom Q Sian correspondent.l

AM -
TRENTON, Jan. 26.-Simultaneously
with the appearance in both branches
of the Legislature of the report of the
state commission to investigate the
subject of industrial education, Sena-
toriJohn d. Prince, of Passaic County,
introduced a bill to carry out the com
missions recommendation that that
body be made permanent. The report,
as stsiibmitted over the signatures Of
President George r.. Howe, of Essex,
and his associates, says in part:
statistics show that of every twenty
pupils who enter the elementary grades
of fhe public schools nineteen leave
permanently before or at the age of
14;5in other words, SO per cent. 1t is
10 this large number starting out in
life with but an elementary education
that the State should lend its aid in
order to make them proficient in the
work hic they set out to do.
When a boy reaches the age of IA or
~16.seronomic conditions usually compel
him to go TO work, either to support
himself or TO assist in the support OF
his4family. He is not mature enough
to make a selection of the occupation
Which he expects to follow through life,
and tries one thing after another until
heHlocates in some calling which he
seems best adapted for. If he enters q
trtde, 1t is but a short time before he
realizes hat there is no place or
method by which he can secure the sup
plemental education necessary to make
hifn ia skilled workman. This lack of
opportunity no doubt prevents many
boys from undertaking a trade, and it's
Importance is now recognized by those
wB9 have given Sny thought to the
SUBJECT.
rFrom the investigation and study
o fsAhe subject by the commission it is
convinced that the best results at the
outFet will be obtained by establishing
eveping schools for Industrial educa-
tidn in the various communities OF the
St8te, under local boards of trustees|
appointed by the chief executive Off
cers of the municipalities. These schools
mast offer special courses of instruc-
ton for the different industries. The
boards of trustees sbov'7 be made up
largely. if not wholly, of those inter-
ssted in industrial pursuits.
The law of 1881 now provides for
State aid to schools for Industrial
trailing, but what is lacking is a COM
prehensive basis on which to establish
theE schools, and on which to provide
forf proper textbooks and instructors.
*The commission believes that one Of
tho greatest benefits to be derived from
tho better education of those employed
ina&he industries will be a solution of
thu labor problem, which at times has
ca4sed SO much disagreement and lard
feeling between the employers and en-
ploXees, A well educated and skilled
necbanic is the one least apt to make
trouble, or to join in a movement
Against the best interests Of his en-
ployer and fellow workmen."
The commissioners state that they
bore personally part of the expense
of their work in 1908, and. because the
Legislature made no appropriation last
Year, all OF the expense during 1909.
Inghis message Governor Fort praised
the report highly. On the commits
sion with President Howe are Will
1ialiiA. cambridge, John A. Ferguson
and Ferdinand w. Roebling, jr.