The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-01-07

PA<'AA "oS ~ SLuOy specimens or work
by accomplished compositors, the
students following them as much as
possible, which tended to develop
copy1sts rather than creators. Dec
orative typography must necessarily
follow artistic lines, so the promoters
Of the I. T. u. Course went to the art
schools and ferreted out the princi-
pies of design and color harmony
which underlie good Typography. The
student Is first taught these princi-
Piles, and then aided in applying them
to everyday work. This not only
enables the compositor to perform
his daily labor with greater ease and
more satisfaction, but develops any
artistic talent he may possess. The
instructors are printers, of course,
and this is an important feature.
Professor Sargent. of the art depart
ment of the University of Chicago,
after thorough inspection, endorsed
the Course. In answer to a question,
the professor said he could not give
students as good service as the Course
instructors, for the reason that he
is not printer. 1t is claimed that
one of the important reasons for the
success of this Course is that it was
prepared for printers by printers.
This subordination Of the pedagogue
to the mechanic or artisan is a. moot
and interesting question in the or
ganization of trade schools of any
description.
The Commission having the unions
venture in charge claims that it has
achieved success, and points to an
enrolment of nearly eighteen hun
dred students in thirty months as
proof. Some of these students give
their opinion of the Course in the
booklet before us. Among them are
two men more than sixty years DID,
one of whom has secured the best
job he ever had, as a result of taking
the Course; the other who has had lit
tie opportunity to become proficient
in the better-paying class Of print
ing, says the Course has taught him
more of the right kind of stuff than
he had learned in many years. A
young man Of twenty jubilantly tells
that his salary has been raised Sc a
week, and he is expecting more. An
the Course beats the seven-year ap-
premiership that is required of Brit
ish printers. A New Yorker, who
complains Of having been railroad
ed through his apprenticeship, says
that at thirty-one years of age he
found in the I. T. U. Course all that
he could have learned in the office
and more. There is also a young
printer who has become an ad writer
and designer, who is sure the instruc-
ton given has enabled him to hold
his new job. An ad compositor on
a daily newspaper says he had learn
which he had never heard of BEFORE
while a Wisconsin printer says the
quality of his work has improved one
hundred per cent.
All this is in keeping with the
purpose of typographical unions,
which spend from $4,000 to $4,000
a year SO that printers may receive
this information at less than cost
The skill of it's members has always
been an important asset of the typo
graphical union. The specialization
of work which now prevails in in
dustry has practically abolished the
apprenticeship system. These and
other things have a tendency to de-
preciate the skill of individual prin-
tiers, thereby weakening the power
of the union. 1t met the situation
in a businesslike way, and in doing
so, not only supplied the need of an
apprenticeship system, but is impart-
ing knowledge that can not we'll be
given In a printing office. The in
struction anticipates the best quality
and most remunerative printing of
the future, and it is conceded it will
do much toward keeping American
printers the world leaders.