The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-02-16
|Speakersat Teachers Meeting
Show Value of Education
Oh Practical Lines
HARVARD man AS A LEADER
Mrs. Mary D. Bradford of Kenosha
Shows Deep Interest in Movement
to Have Trade Schools as Part of
Wisconsin System of Education.

The Importance of trade schools as
part of the educational systems of
cities in Wisconsin was emphasized at
the meeting of the Northwestern Teach
ers' Association at Oshkosh on Satur-
day and Mrs. Mary D. Bradford, SUI
perintendent of Schools of Kenosha
took an important part in the discus
sion of the question. Mrs. Bradford
is heartily in favor of the idea and it
is certain that before the opening of
another school year in Kenosha she
will present to the school board some
plan for the opening of trade schools
for the boys and girls of Kenosha.
Prof. Paul HI. Hanus of Harvard Uni
versity led the discussion of the i'm
portant question at the Oshkosh meet
ing on Saturday and brought out many
new ideas in regard to the schools and
his address was seconded by one by
DR.. r. P. Claxton, President of the
University of Tennessee. The address
was on the subject: "The Problem of
Vocational Education Restated"
He spoke we'll Of the continuation
schools of Germany and stated that in
time continuation schools would be es-
tablished in many cities in this coun-
try. These schools, the speaker said,
permitted the student to work in the
shop one day and work out his shop
problems in school the next day. In
short, the speaker said, these schools
provided for the assimilation of two
phases of vocation-the practical and
the theoretical.
The part-time schools are much like
the continuation schools, the speaker
explained, and these permitted the stu
dents to work and 60 to school, alter
mating so the pupils could earn their
way through school by working part
of the time. The day trade schools,
the speaker said, were schools where
the pupils could learn trade. He
favored four year course in these
schools.
Professor Hanus stated that the pub
lie school system should be organized
so that the purpose of public school
education would be to fit the students
for employment.
The speaker stated that years ago
a person wishing to learn a trade was
taken as an apprentice and was taught
the various branches of the business
into which he entered. The various
branches Of business have become so
centered that it is almost impossible
for workman to learn a complete
trade, the speaker declared, and ne can
become proficient in but small part
of his chosen work. He stated that it
was the duty of the public schools to
develop a vocational purpose, so that
they could benefit the multitude and
not assist the few.
Professor Hanus mentioned the
schools that were established for vo-
cational purposes, but stated that the
majority of students could not attend
these schools and he urged that pub
lie school systems be so revised that
they would provide courses that would
fit the pupils for the yocations they
might choose.
He stated such condition would
benefit the social conditions. He said
that the vocational adjustment ought
to be presented in the seventh and
eighth grades Of the public schools in
order that the pupils might become in
terested in vocational education before
they are ready to enter the high
schools.
The speaker stated that it was not
his idea to revolutionize the system of
instruction, but merely to change it so
that the students would be able to en-
ter their chosen profession or business
He spoke of the commercial and man
ual training department. of the schools
as they are conducted at present. He
stated these were excellent. But he
urged a more complete establishment
Of vocational studies.