The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-04
HUNT FOR FACTS.
Campaign for Information Con-
corning Trade Schools.
Commercial Club Committee
Sends Out Questions.
MIR. CARVER PROTESTS
Doesn't Want StenOgraphy and
Typewriting Taught.
Says Feature Hasn't Been Sue
cess at Kansas City.

Another step has been taken to-
wards the establishment of trade
school in Topeka Announcement was
made at the meeting of the board or
education held Monday night by the
subcommittee of the educational COM
mittee of the Commercial club, that
the committee had sent to the heads
of the Industrial establishments in
/ Topeka number of questions relative
to their cooperation in the trade
school idea, and that when the replies
come in a formal report will be sub
mitted to the board covering the in
formation received and possibly re-
commencing the establishment of
trade school to be put in operation by
next fall.
The Following is the letter which
has been sent out to manufacturers
and others:
"A special committee of the Topeka
Commercial club is considering the
advisability of recommending to the
board of education the establishment
of a trade school for the benefit of
the following; % Young people now
j employed in some trade or industry
who might profitably spend part of
their time in school receiving scien-
: tific and technical instruction relat-
ing to the trade or business in which
they are employed. Cd Boys and girls
from Ia to Is years of age who can not
make satisfactory progress in schools
] OF the ordinary type an uWuO are III
clined to drop out of school at the age
of fifteen years, the limit OF compul-
sorry attendance.
I'm its investigations the committee
has learned that in some cities certain
manufacturers cooperate with the
board of education in operating trade
schools which pupils may attend part
of the time while working part time
in some shop or factory or at some
trade as apprentices.
In order to find out whether the
conditions in Topeka would justify the
organization of such school, the I'M
derSigned, who were appointed as a
| subcom mittee for this purpose, ear
nestly request you to answer the queS-
lions on the incloSed sheet and to re-
turn it at your earliest convenience to
L. D. Whittemore, superintendent OF
city schools.
1--WE shall very highly appreciate
your courtesy in giving us your as
sistance."
The questions asked:
l. Do you find it difficult to secure
skilled worknnen in sufficient mum bers
3 How many boys under q wears OF
g. In what particulars are young
people employed by you ordinarily
found deficient?
4. Would such persons as you employ
be benefited if they could attend school
part of the time where they could re-
/ ceive instruction in practical subjects
and in technical and scientific matters
relating to the trade or business III
which they are employed?
5. If a trade school should be estap-
| Hshed could you arrange to give part
time employment to any pupils attend
ing such a SCHOOL, To how many boys
| To how many girls?
6. Could you make arrangements 70
| permit any persons now employed by
| you to attend a trade school part OF
the time, say from one to three half
days a week?
Z. Do you think that the improve
/ ment in the quality of the work would
be such as to justify you in paying fun
! wages to persons attending school part
of the time and working part time, as
| is done in the Santa Fe school OF up
prentices?
s. Would you be interested in i per
sonal conference with the committee
or school authorities with reference to
part time employment of persons at
tending a trade school?
Since W. J. Berkowitz, of Kansas
/ City. told the members Of the CONNER
ciaI club several months ago of the
agitation in his city in the direction OF
! the establishment of trade schools and
the subsequent address before the same
body by Superintendent J. M. Gre m
| wood, Of the Kansas City public schools
| great interest has been evinced IN the
| trade school idea in Topeka.
The board decided to make provis-
4