The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-02-05

those of employers and Of the indus
try. p:
Interests Would Control
J. Ever since the establishment Of our
public school system, there has been
a constant and persistent attempt by
large commercial interests to control
our public system Of education and
to do it for their own selfish purpose.
These interests have tried time and
again to control the course Of prep
aration and of training our children
solely for the purpose of using them
in turning out a maximum amount of
articles"of exchange and commerce at
the lowest possible cost to themselves.
:" Vocational school courses should at
all times be under the guidance and
control of school authorities having
control Of the general education of
the children. The unit system of adj
ministratfon is best adapted to edu-
eating our children properly for their
future guidance as citizens and as
workers:
Prompted by this analysis and by
the observations, opinions and con-
illusions herein expressed by your
SOAAI1AlA\CO0 We 4SCVuAAAc1u IAc SO1"
currence in the several recommends
tons of the Executive Council noted
in its report with the following addi-
tiona1 requirements:
Something's To Remember.
I. That in approving industrial
education, equal attention should be
given to. the general educational
studies and requirements Of the
school children. Your committee be.
lieves the latter Of greater import
ance to the future welfare of the
workers than the former instructions.
2. That industrial education shall
include the teaching of the science
underlying the various industries and
industrial pursuits being: taught, their
historic, economic and social bear
ings.
8. That all courses In industrial
education shall be administered by
the same Board of Education or
trustees administering the general
education; that no federal legislation
on this subject shall receive the ap-
prevail of the American Federation Of
Labor which does not. require unit
system of control over all public
school studies, general and industrial.
Bill In Congress.
AS to Federal Legislation covering
this important subject the committee
recommended:
That the Smith-Hughes bill be en-
dorsed but that such approval is de-
pendent upon the amending of the
bill 50 as to eliminate the optional
system, and that the states accepting
the terms Of the bill shall be required
to comply to the unit system: Of con-
troll.
1t would seem that the position Of
organized labor as>herein defined and
as unanimously agreed to at the SAN
Francisco convention ia an endorse
ment of a careful plan Of industrial
education which will be of a. benefit
to labor as we'll as employer. .
Organized labor is opposed and al
ways will be too narrowly specialized
training under the control of private
interests and OF sham 1ndustrla4 edu-
cation. Whether at public or private
expense that kind which is superficial
and confers no benefit upon the
worker-that which will make him
a half baked mechanic and only an
interloper, who is and may be avail
able in time of Industrial crises. And,
not as a skilled mechanic for indus
trial service at all times, industrial
education must train men for work
and not for private exploitation.
You will find that the opposition
of labor to industrial education is
that which has. been unfairly called
such. And President Gompers, at the
1909 Convention, OF the American
Federation Of Labor submitted in part
the following: THAT since technical
education of the workers in trade and
industry is a public necessity it should
not be a private but a. public flnc-
ton, conducted by the public and the
expense involved at public cost"
In Real Efficiency
So the only sort Of Industrial edu-
cation that the labor movement can
be enlisted in and their cooperation
secured and that which should re-
ceive the cooperation Of employers
as we'll, and it is equally to the inter-
est Of the employees as of labor, that
is that workingmen shall be trained
for real efficiency, that he will pro-
duce more there is no question, and
by this virtue will make for q Msher
economic as we'll as industrial better
ment. The social development Of
labor, as we'll as their welfare, will
depend largely upon industrial educa.
ton and in that case the employer
as we'll as the community will. be
equally benefited with. that Of the
worker. In the matter Of industrial
education there is no controversy be-
tween labor and their employers II It
is to be organized by the, public
schools for the benefit Of the boys
and girls Of the community, when we
the fathers and mothers Of these
boys and girls and never fear; we are
not going to oppose the best interests
Of these children: ~ 49,.
The American Federation Of Labor
invites anyone in doubt as to it's atti-
tude on this all-important question to
write is officers and. they Will gladly
furnish such information which covers
years of interest and investigation as
we'll as its conclusions SO far, as they
nkn}~ SS -