East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-06-19

their youth to the parental home or
the factory. The changes in industry
have brought with them the need for
new system of vocational education
one more in accordance with modern
conditions.
An examination of the provisions of
European laws shows that care is Ia
ken to secure adequate trade instruc-
tion for the apprentices in the mast
er's shop. Only duly qualified masters
can have apprentices; written con-
tract must be made with all appren-
tees, guaranteeing to the youth thor
ough instruction in the masters shop;
system of apprenticeship is limited
to period of from three to four
years; the shop is inspected by COM
petent officials and the boy is exam
ined at the end of his apprenticeship
| to ascertain whether he as mastered
the trade: no employer is permitted to
have greater number of apprentices
than he can properly instruct and def
mite provision is made for limiting
the number of apprentices that can
be employed in given plant; finally,
the master is required to send these
boys and girls to a supplementary
school for a certain number of hours
each week to receive instruction in
the theory of the trade they are in, as
we'll as in their rights and duties us
men and citizens.
While the Germans believe in the
value of a thoroughly organized ap-
premiership system they are satisfied
this must be supplemented by definite
school instruction. Tney urge The
trades cannot be taught in the school
but the trades cannot be taught with
cut the school,"
The experience of Europe proves
that these continuation schools can
not be evening or Sunday schools,
carried on during the ordinary work
ing hours of the day. in special build-
ings equipped for this purpose. with
special teachers trained for this class
of work and with special local boards
of control dominated by practical
men-employers and employees. The
Germans tried for years. as we are
now trying, to supplement the daily
work in the shop with evening school
instruction, but found the strain too
great for the boys and girls between
IA and is.
Complete success in this plan Of
education demands system of coop
Grating institutions, such as homes"
or clubrooms. for the boys and girls
placed in the school building when
possible, excursion clubs, public play
grounds, public baths, free libraries
and evening entertainments. In the
best continuation school systems of
Europe the buildings, used for in
struction have rooms to which the pu-
pills may come evenings and Sundays
or in other spare time for the purpose
of preparing their work, for reading
and for amusement. Though these
supplementary agencies a corporate
spirit is built up about the institution
and the continuation school becomes
an individual factor in the life of the
community just as we'll marked as
any other school. This supplement-
ary work must include organizations
for vocational guidance.
The experience of Europe proves
that vocational instruction must be
compulsory for the youth between 15
and IS. No such system of schools
has succeeded without compulsion.
In this country there is a class sys-
tenn with almost exclusive devotion
to the kind of preparation needed by
professional men and the leisure class.
The question is simply whether the
sons and daughters of the rest of the
people shall be offered assistance to
enable them to rise in their vocations
and become more efficient workm IN
and better citizens.