The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-02-05
Organized Labor's Position
On Industrial Education:
HAIL. Minnesota Federation OF Labor

&AS w SAAS pOoAtAOAA VI tAAO <1A4CA Nd43
Labor Movement towards Industrial
Education. 1t can be :truthfully said
that it has been studious for many
years in efforts to solve the problems
in education that will give to the boy
and girl that are destined: to take
their place in the field of labor their
boys and girls" the way best educa-
ton is obtainable, and may say that
since the very inception of the Trade
Union Movement that we have felt
the necessity of education, they have
in the past, and will in the future, ad-
vocate that: for which will prepare
and fit the American boy and girl
with that which will make for them a
bigger and better, as well as a. more
efficient workman, and citizen, and
while the American Federation of
Labor has been through it's Executive
Council and special committees in
vestigating the important subjects be-
fore you.
Unions Have Schools.
Many of the National and Interna-
tional Unions have and are now con-
Quoting through their several trade
journals as we'll as correspondence
departments devoted to. technical
training OF their members, and there
are many. However, the education
along trade lines came before the
convention Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor in 1903, wherein the
realization was becoming more of a
q 0f hot h.
as to the training of the future work.
men and so from convention to con-
vention considerable time and atten-
ton has been given in working out
this important subject as would result
in the most benefits for those who
are doing and are destined to do the
worlds work. And still maintain that
standard of living which will make
for America a permanent nation of
the Earth.
From Highest Motives.
And while organized labor has been
attempting in the solving of this ques-
ton like many others it has been
openly charged with the having of
Interior motives. If in opposing some
enterprises which have been under
taken in the name of Industrial Edu-
! cation for the purpose Of exploitation
Of the laborer enterprises that have
been Instituted by employees with the
object of profit to creating an over
! supply of labor in certain employ
| ments. we have opposed and will con-
tinue to oppose. Organized labor can
not afford to favor any scheme of in
! dustrial education that is one sided.
Any scheme, I might say, (which will
| bring trained men or women into any
! trade without any regard for the de-
mand for labor in that trade, we shall
oppose" Industrial education must
maintain proper apportionment of
| the supply Of labor, to the demand
for labor in every line of work, if the
result of Industrial education is to
produce in this community or in any
other a greater number Of skilled
woodworkers, bricklayers, machinists
or other trades than are needed,
| those who have been trained cannot
derive any benefits from their train
ing if there is no employment except
an economic disadvantage. If this
| condition is. to be brought about in
! dustrial education is Of no advantage
~ Vic 4AASA <144u "Oul0I VIII nave IS.
! ceived it, and it will be a distinct in
jury to the journeymen working at
the trade who are subjected to the
over supply of workmen artificially
produced.
Must Meet His Needs.
Industrial education must meet the
needs of the worker as we'll as the
| requirements of the employer. There
is no question that in some respects
the most difficult task before indus
trial education is in the maintaining
of an equilibrium Of supply and de-
mand Of efficient mechanics; an
equilibrium as nearly perfect as is
physically possible. How shall this
difficult problem be solved? How
shall such an equilibrium of labor
supply and demand be maintained and
| industrial. education freed from any
suspicion of working injury to labor
| by causing an over supply to de-
mand? In answer to these it would
7 seem that the one way Of avoiding
this difficulty and the only way of
| working serious injury to labor has
been followed out in Minneapolis or
similar surveys It seems that this is
| the only safe basis for undertaking
industrial education either in that
community or in any other, by the
| accumulation of facts as regards en-
pigments, that the public schools
may properly provide for the particu-
lar industrial needs and. with such
data in hand there can be no excuse,
IF Industrial education does not prove
to be of benefit to labor and to the
community.
Comes Close To Life. = =
It may be said that Industrial edu-
cation comes close to the life and
happiness of labor. It involves the
means Of livelihood for the working
man. The test of efficiency of indus
trial education is wage earning power
not simply increase in efficiency sof
labor. 1t is perfectly possible for in
dustrial education, even when pro-
vided' by the public schools, If 1t. is
not organized with regard to"the in
dustrial needs OF the community, to
increase the productivity and ? effi-
cheney of certain groups Of labor and
at the same time reduce the wage
learning power: of the laborers in
those groups. It. would: result: from
the working of 2 universal economic