The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-03
TAXPAYER DOESN'T LIKE RIFLES IN.
 THE TRADE SCHOOL

EdltOr Of The rsdfmer:
 Sdr-The Trade Schools of Connecti- cut need radical change of system II have been following quite closely the views expressed by different writers on the management of the Bridgeport Trade School Also have noted the editorials of some of our local papers ion that our citizens are getting much needed information on the present pol icy of this school, and I presume the New Britain school is conducted along the same lines.
 I note that in defense Of the school Mr. Bullard says that the rifles were introduced by the State Board of Edu- cation. I am pleased to find out who was responsible for their introduction but when the argument Is brought forth that they were introduced to give the boys physical exercise, it is amusing to say the least, and at once condemns the idea of keeping the boys in the school for a, nine hour day. If the boys need exercise, why not reg- ulate the hours in this school so they will conform to those in other schools of like character, and then the boys will have plenty of time to get phy- Sical exercise
 If as Mir Bullard says, that this school is not closely. allied to the
 
 they apply the same methods that are in vogue in most of our factories Namely, the time-ctock, the nine-hour day. recording of actual time spent on a job, etc.
 Now in my opinion this and many other things connected with this Trade School are radically wrong.
 It is true that neither the Manufac- turers nor the Central Labor Union has any right to dictate the policy of the Trade School, and I have not heard Of the Central Labor Union try ing to do so, but I am of the opinion that the Manufacturers have laid themselves liable to suspicion along this line at least.
 <In the first place. they should not have been allowed to donate the ma chinery necessary to equip the school, for no one believes but that they fully expected to reap a reward in so doing. If the State wishes to estab- fish Trade Schools, let it pay for the same in it's entirety and let them be run absolutely free from any influ- ence.
 The manufacturers of this or any other city should not be allowed to send work into these trade schools. for in as much as it is done, it simply takes work away from the mechanics who have spent their lives at the
  is just what our trade school is doing in this city, not only that, but com plaints are being made by men who have money invested in business here, that work is being done in this school, with which they have absolutely no chance to compete; surely this is not the proper function of a trade school. I fully agree with the statement that our trade school has no precedent to follow, because the present system is so radically wrong, such thing would be impossible.
 We find no especial body of men contributing to our public schools and the trade schools should be run in the same way.
 We all pay taxes to the State, and we want to see these schools conduct ed by the State and if it requires more money. apply for it in the regu- lar way.
 A trade school is no new idea, and why was it necessary to change the policy of our trade schools in such a radical manner from that which is in vogue in other parts of our coun try. What is the matter with the trade schools of Massa chusetts for in- stance, we find them fulfilling their mission there, minus all the ebjec- tional features of our schools. I hope the agitation will continue until our trades schools are put on proper basis and I do not consider that this agitation is any carping criticism as the Bridgeport Post would have us be- lieve. Az taxpayers, we have right to have a say in this affair, and hope that the proper condition of affairs in the State Trade schools will soon be
 TAXPAYER.