Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-08
SCHOOL OF EFFICIENCY
TRAINS WORKING GIRLS
Dressmaking, Millinery an d
Other Courses Help Them Get
and Hold Good Positions

when tho women ot the Emergency Aid
took It upon themselves to instruct the
young girls who were laid off" last win
ter ON account Of the slack season in the
big business houses Miss Helen Fleisher
got an idea She went direct to the EN-.
ployers Of these girls and asked why they
were discharged
Because they are inefficient" one an
swered when the time comes TO choose
among my employees, the ones who are in
efficient are the first ones to go. A girl
who knows her work thoroughly is never
without a job
The result Of this conversation was a
class In dressmaiing and millinery which
lasted all through the winter months, and
not one Of the 1lg girls who learned their
trade In this class has been out of a job
since.
Continuing this policy, and in response
TO the popular demand for competent
workers, the School of Efficiency, at AS
South 9th street was started IL Ia a
small place, and the classes are small
The instruction is, therefore. individual,
and tile girls are made to feel that the in
terest which Is shown In their work and
their future Is to bring about practical
results.
one floor of the school Is devoted to
dressmakinE. Mrs. Carolyn Mack. the in
struetor, can show with pride a book in
which finely worked samples of every
branch of the sewing art-darning. shir-
ring, shocking, faggOting. hand tuclSinE,
miterng, bias.folding--wa neatly pasted.
The girls love their work" she said.
"They come in at and work until 3.
The materials are supplied by the com.
mittee In charge. | am very proud of
what they have done. considering that we
only started on the 10th of January. When
we have finished we anticipate no diff.
Guilty in placing the girls, because they
Will be thoroughly capable, not to become
factory hands, as many girls of this class
are unfortunately forced to become but
tirstClass drcssmakers helpers"
One look at the eager, bright.eyed stu.
dents Is evidence that Mrs. Mack is right.
The walls are lined with interesting sam
pies of work. each with girls name
tackled in the corner.
on the third floor the millinery school
is in session. Tho course starts with
seams. folds and fancy foCings and bind.
ngs and coverings and other things which
are as unknown to the average woman as
the workings of the N-ray machine. The
student Is allowed a wide latitude in the
choice of shape. She makes her own
frame of soft wire, and learns to cover,
line and trim it under the watChful eyes
of the Misses Phillips
French rose making is also another
branch of instruction. The flowers which
one buys for ccrsagc or hat ornaments
and they bring down imported prices. Now
these girls were told to copy an imported
rose brought in by Miss Fleisher, who.
with Miss Gretchen Clay and Miss Mary
Mitchell, is in charge of the school. The
result was astounding. When the two were
put together the difference in workman
ship between the copy and the original
was not discernble.
our whole aim Is to give the girl
fighting chance" was the way Miss Fleish-
summed up the purpose of the school.
"I believe that to get results. the classes
must be small. and the girls must get the
personal attention, the Individual consid-
Grafton which is the keynote of successful
instruction.
"Unskilled labor Is paid sometimes $3.50
a week sometimes more. That is all these
girls would get If they worked for 10
years, probably But when they know
trade their worth is greater, naturally
both to themselves and their employers.
So we are all enthusiastic about the plan
and are prepared to start class in any
thing the girls want If there are 10 of
them.
Covering lampshades, boXmaking and
any of the trades which aren't already
overcrowded we are willing to consider.
Continuation classes, in compliance with
the law have been established. In this
way we cooperate with the schools. The
fact that there is absolutely no charge of
any kind, for lunch, materials, instruction
or schooling. Is our chief drawing card.
| only hope that we can branch out into
n larger organization and can meet the
demand for workers in every trade in
which women are employed"