The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-04
EDUCATION OF
The APPRENTICE
Method Of Supplying Vocational
Training a Problem.
BETTER W0RKMEN NEEDED

Under Haphazard System of Teaching
Now In Vogue the Boy Who Wishes
to Learn a Trade 10 Seriously Handi-
eapped-PIan of Typographical Union
Has Some Good Features.
How best to adapt our system of edu,
cation to the needs Of the pupil, of in
dustry and of the community is one
Of the problems that is pressing fox
settlement. The importance of this
problem Is being more generally recog-
nized every day, and the great labor or
CARNATIONS, the large industrial cor
porations, individual employers, social
service workers, educators and parents
are giving it not only consideration,
but intensive study.
There is no doubt but that the great
purpose Of education is to increase not
only the knowledge, but the usefulness
of the individual, by preparing him or
her to earn better living and to be
better member Of society. That So
ciety needs not cheaper but better
workmen is an admitted fact, and both
capital and labor are working, al
though along different lines, to reach
this enA. NV
One Of the largest questions to be an
Bwered Is: How shall vocational train
ing be supplied? Shall 1t be in the
high schools as Independent school
work, irrespective Of actual shop expe-
rience, or in continuation schools,
where apprentices shall study few
hours week at the expense OF the
employer?
There is growing up among employ
ers generally in industrial plants Q
realization that they owe duty to
their apprentices that they have not
been performing. Except in few In.
situations no attempt has been made
until recently to really educate the ap'
prentice The boy endeavoring to learn
a trade has been greatly handicapped
by this condition, with the result that
he has secured his Industrial knowl'
edge In haphazard fashion instead of
In logical sequence with view to Its
proper application. The reason for this
has been that it was no ones duty to
teach the apprentice. The journeymen
yere too valuable as producers to be
used as instructors. Foremen had no
time to devote to more than casual
Instruction, with the result that there
have been turned out Of the shops Of
this country lot Of half baked jour
neymen who had to really learn their
trade at the expense of their subse-
quent employers.
Naturally such a condition is a tax
upon any industry. Spoiled work and
inefficient methods cost more than edu-
cation, and, realizing that, number
of large industrial establishments set
about providing the necessary educa-
ton for their apprentices. Two gen.
eral systems Of training were pursued.
Some shops provided self contained
schools under the direction of work
men detailed to that service, where the
apprentices were required to spend a
certain number Of hours each day and
to take periodical examinations to es'
tablish their proficiency. In other In
dustrial centers the employers arrang
ed with the local school authorities for
special school courses for apprentices
supplementary to the shop practice,
Both methods have worked well.
Some of the great labor unions, par
ticularly the International Topographic
cal union, established correspondence
schools for journeymen and appren-
tees, but this work is voluntary and Is
taken up only by the more ambitious
boys and men. The Typographical union
IN cooperation with employers is work.
ing out an apprenticeship plan unde,
which both are to assist in the educa.
ton of the apprentice, who must be
periodically examined by the union of.
ficials to determine his progress and
proficiency and to ascertain whether OF
not the employer is living up to his
educational obligation and the boy IL
taking advantage of his opportunities
II the employer does not provide prop
er facilities he is required to furnish
them. If the boy shows upon examina
ton that he is not adapted to the trade
be will be told SO and dismissed and
cannot again enter as an apprentice.
All Of these plans must be studied
and the one most adaptable to eacf
community adopted. For each com
munity has different educational and
vocational needs. What shall be laugh
and how 1t shall be taught are thu
large questions to be determined.
In addition there is occupations
guidance, function Of the vocationa
school, to determine by study Of thu
individual student the vocation or bust
ness to which his abilities and inclina
lions best adapt him, In order tina
there may be as few square pegs II
round holes as possible.
Both of these are extremely larg
subjects presenting problems, the prop
or solution of which is vital to our In
dustrial and commercial welfare.
The United States bureau of educa
tion at Washington is giving careful
attention to these subjects In thei
various phases and maintains specia
department for their study.-San Fran
cisco Recorder.
,u.i.l M;nsrs, Damands Granted.