New-York tribune., 1914-10-11
WHAT THE TRAINING CLASS FOR
TRADE TEACHING AT PRATT IN
STITUTE DID IN 1913-14.

This class consisted oC seventeen
trades during the day and were
brought together in an evening class
to receive instruction in the principles
of teaching as applied 20 the industrial
school The class met three times a
week for period Of twenty -four
weeks. each session being two hours
in length.
The purpose of the course was TO
train men to become teachers of shop
work in either day or evening indus
trial schools. The instruction did not
include shop work practice or related
trade subjects, but was confined to
the principles of trade teaching. 1t
was expected that the candidate would
bring to the class the thorough trade
knowledge and training IN related
trade subjects essential TO the success
full shop teacher No applicant was
accepted who was under tWenty-four
years of age or over forty, or who
could not show an all-round expert
ence in his trade covering at least five
years above apprenticeship. No writ
ten test for entrance was given, but
candidates were required to ill out
an application blank giving in detail
their training and experience, and to
submit recommendation as to trade
fitness. The personal qualifications of
each candidate were carefully rated in
an interview with the instructor Of
the class. and his trade equipment was
passed upon by a mechanic. expert
enced in the same trade
SiNfy mon do anulisofiop aud nf
this number. twenty were accepted. of
whom eighteen actually started the
course. One withdrew at the end OF
six weeks. seventeen remaining to COM
plete the work. Those selected rep
resented the following trades: Machn-
is'. carpenter. machine craftsman,
electrician, patternmakcr, plumber.
The training given consisted of two
parts: % Practice teaching in the
New York evening trade schools one
evening each week. The majority Of
the class taught two evenings a week,
the second week being optional.) (2)
Class work at Pratt Institute two even
ings each week.
In the practice teaching. the pupil
teacher served as a helper TO the regu-
lar trade teacher in charge Of the shop.
In some Instances the pupil teacher
was given a division Of the class. for
which he was made responsible under
the direction Of the shop teacher. One
evening each week the Instructor OF
the training class visited the various
classes in which the pupil teachers
were serving 4or The purpose of giving
assistance and direction 10 the practice
work. Members Of the class were re-
Quired 10 submit weekly written re-
ports on their practice teaching. These
reports were later made the subject of
class discussion.
The class work al Pratt Institute
consisted of two parts: II DemOnstra-
ton work in the form of practice teach
ing before the class and ~ conference
and lecture work on a short unit"
basis In the demonstration work
members Of the class were required to
bring in problems of shop practice and
related shop knowledge which had
arisen in ,heir practical experience and
present these TO the class IN the form
of lessons. The demonstration was then
thrown open TO discussion The confer
encc and lecture work consisted OF dis
cussions, readings and occasional lect-