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

NS%~~
the working people? 49,, 49,
modification S6f the . curriculum of
other public schools; to make that
curriculum serve more fully the needs
can assure you that no disposition
will be found anywhere among work.
ingmen to oppose this effort to make
our schools: more democratic in serv:
ing the real bread and butter needs
of the community.
Let me tell you that labor-organ-
lied labor has been active. for years
to secure this cend-tIiat active in it's
efforts to make the public schools do
precisely. that which some misin-
formed people even think labor OPP
poses. :.
Where labor Stands.
submit to you the position of the
American acknowledgements at its re-
cent conventions which its committee
In part says: Education is necessarily
the foundation of any republic. :Edu-
cation Is necessary to the perpetuity
OF any republtcz' It is, therefore, the
essential duty Of ). this republic to
guarantee every child an adequate
education. Everybody believes in
education. Differences arise not
upon it's value: :butsupon questions of
what a. true education should consist
of, who should he educated, how far
and by what method they should be
educated, and what persons should
conduct such education.
E1,1oaf i0y, .s1a1,,I5 ;po1,,1o
we do for ourselves and whatever is
done for us by others, and for the ex-
press purpose Of. bringing us nearer
to the perfection Of our nature. In
It's largest conception education
should comprehend even the indirect
effects produced on character and on
the human faculties, by things by
which the direct purposes are differ
ent, by law. by forms of government,
by industrial arts, and. by modes Of
social, economic and civic life. Edu-
cation should comprehend the Gull
ture which each generation gives to
those who are to, be it's successors, in
order to best qualify them for at least
keeping up, and if possible for raising
the improvement of human kind
which has been attained
A. F. of LIS. Position.
Industrial education in the sense in
which this term is ordinarily used,
and in which your committee now
employees it, means that sort of edu-
cation which is specially adapted to
the needs of: men and women whose
business in life it is to pursue some
kind of handicraft and as defined in
the great number-of reports made on
this subject blythe American Fedora
ton Of Labor:.::.>>::
Judged. by a careful observation of
all opinions and, conclusions agreed
to by the American Federation Of
Labor on this .subject, it is clearly
and unmistakal4y evident that the
American Federation of Labor has
and does approve and favor including
the industrial or vocational education
into our public school curriculum:
Whilst urgent for Industrial educa-
ton, there is also evident some appre-
hension that this proposed industrial
education may ultimately give way to
an attempt on the part Of large COM
mercial interests, whereby the oppor-
tunities Of the workers children for
a general education will be limited,
and which will tend to make the
workers more submissive and less in
dependent. To prevent this possible
menace it is essential that some STAN
dard is agreed to by. which to Judge
and determine whether the education
fostered tends to full development
Of American Freedom. and of Amer
lean manhood and womanhood.
We hold the child must be edu-
Gated not only to adapt itself to his
or her particular calling they are to
enter later in life, but that they
should have the power of self-direc-
ton and Of directing others; the pow
ers Of administration as we'll as
ability to assume positions of respon-
sibility. -. 49,.
What Is Essential?
It Is not only essential that we
should fit our boys and girls for the
industries, but It is equally essential
to fit the industries for the future
employment Of our young men and
young women. :. -"
I A careful review Of our Industrial
conditions will further evidence that
there are many industries which for
merly offered the workers opportun-
tiles far more than a sustenance. or
physical existence, which have been
divided and sub-divided until the vo-
cation itself, in some instances is be-
coming a lost art The ever-increas-
ing specialization in industrial pur-
suits, due to existing industrial prac-
tees, which limit the workers to but
one form of automatic work, or con-
fines them to a highly specialized
branch of work, IS a very serious evil
confronting, the workers and society
today. As specialization increases,
this evil will logically and proper
tionately increase, unless stringent
measures are adopted to prevent the
evils of monotonous and automatic
work. What good will come in i'm
parting industrial education. i'm our
public schools, if our children are
permitted to be fastened to a ma
chine, requiring but the repetition of
a few muscular motions? Vocational
education is not enough +: extreme
specialization must be abolished. The
future Industrial life Hof our children
demands that their immature years
are spent In a proper physical and
mental ~upbuilding. Then, too, indus