Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-15
VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS IN GERMAN
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
r The Star and the Chicago Record. Herald


Written for The Star and
Mr.. W. II. Kern. president Of the State
Normal Industrial School Of North Dakota.
asks information concerning
German industrial education In Ger
p.l;.u many. and particularly the
vocational and continuation
schools
These institutions. which are not limit
go to Germany, but are found in France
and Switzerland also, are the result OF
the development Of secondary technical
instruction during the last twenty-five
years. They are important features OF
the program of the imperial ministry of
commerce and industry, for the promo
ton of such q system Of instruction is an
inseparable part Of the national economic
policy Of Germany.
The purpose OF this system is double.
In the first place. 1t is intended to pro-
vide skilled labor for the manufactures
and various trades OF Germany: in the
second place, it is intended to widen the
possibilities for young wage-earners who
are striving to improve their condition in
life by enabling them to earn higher
wages and exercise a greater influence
in commerce and trade. incidentally,
from the socialistic point of view. it is
to aid In eliminating class distinctions
and to assist the peasantry and the work
ing classes generally to acquire the
knowledge and accomplishments which
their ambition and qualify them to be-
come employers themselves.
*
The vocational schools provide instruc-
ton in the various arts and trades and
in the applied sciences.
Industrial There are schools of archi-
r.;.; lecture, carving, pattern
making. designing and
other branches Of the practical arts;
there are schools for the building trades,
for hydraulic science, road building.
bridge building, railroad and tunnel
building. and the operation Of the va
rious trades that. pertain thereto There
are schools for metal workers. Including
machinery. shipbuilding, engine build
ing. smelling and foundry work, cutlery.
coppefsmithing. gold and silver working
and the electrical sciences. The textile
scnools include spinning. dyeinE, weav-
ing. lace making. machine knitting and
all the numerous branches Of the cotton,
wool. linen and silk industries. Indeed.
every branch Of the mechanic arts is
taught. and the object Is not only to
train the hands. but to train the mind of
the workers also. that they may apply
Greater intelligence as well as greater
skill to their work. Another Of the prin-
ctpal objects is to abolish or shorten the
term OF apprenticeship in the different
traces. and the hours of instruction are
regulated SO that those who need this
training most may continue to earn wages
While II Is going on. There are regular
classes during work hours, which are at
tended by those who are able to do so
without sacrifice. who are supported and
whose tuition is paid by their parents
or others. This class constitutes the
larger number OF students Probably one
third or the whole are self-dependent and
support themselves by working at the
trades they are receiving instruction in.
The opportunities fo- Industrial edu-
cation are quite as good in the United
States as in Germany
American Our school systems
Advantages. Of every country ut s"'r IN
Europe in several particulars. We have
IN New York, Boston, Chicago and
other cities opportunities for mechanical
training quite as good. although they
are not so numerous, as the vocational
schools Of Germany. The same training
in the industrial arts can be had at
Cooper Institute, New York, at the Ar
mour Institute in Chicago, at the Univer-
sity of Cincinnati, at several schools in
Boston and Worcester, and the manual
training departments of the public
schools Of Washington and other cities
that might be named, answer the same
purpose. although they are not so
thorough. and they do not go so far as
the schools Of Germany.
Mnen student passes his examination
ana receives certificate from q yoca-
tional school in Germany he is qualified
as Journeyman in the trade for which
he has been educated. That certificate
will command full wages, and, having
been bestowed by the government inn
perial, it has the emperor behind it in
the person Of the minister Of commerce
and industry and must be accepted by
employers as a guaranty that the holder
Is qualified to perform any task in his
line. 1t is exactly as II Mr.. Nagel, Sec
rotary OF Commerce and Labor. should
certify to the qualifications Of John Doe
or Richard Rec as an electrician or
bridge builder, plumber or architect. In
Germany the functions Of the govern
ment include not only the education of
mechanics. but the guarantee of their
qualifications. In several cities there
are regular employment agencies in con-
nection with the vocational schools
When a manufacturer needs hands he
goes there to get them, knowing. that
they will be we'll trained and Of good
character, because persons OF intemper-
ate habits and vicious dispositions are
not eligible to enter the schools
If you will look over the list Of yoca-
tional schools In Germany you will dis
cover that every trade or art or &C.
cupation that can be imagined is pro-
vided for. There Is even q school for
soapmakers at Brandenburg, schools for
glovemakers at Zeigenhals and Halber-
stadt, a school for tanners at Fri
berg, school for basket makers
at Gravenwiesbach. school for
brickmakers at Laubau. a school for pot
ters at Banzlau and a school for house
keepers in Berlin.
AS a rule the age Of admission to these
schools varies from fourteen to sixteen,
and the courses are usually two years.
There are altogether SIS vocational
schools in Germany: g for the building
trades. % for maohinists, 50 for miners
for the textile industries. - for the wood
industries. for the ceramic arts, 81 for
the Industrial arts. 81 commercial schools,
for teaching bookkeeping. stenography,
etc: 81 for blacksmiths, locksmiths and
cutlery: 40 for navigation and shipbuild-
ing. 81 for river navigation and freight
handling. and other technical schools.
which are under the care Of the govern
ment and whose graduates receive certifi-