The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-11


ING the Trades Prompted the Move
nsnt-EdueationaI Policy of the In
stitution-Methods Of Teaching and
Variety Of the Subjects Taught.
The school for active workers In the
labor movement conducted by the Ma
tional Woman's Trade Union league
at Chicago grows apace. Opened in
January, 1914, with one student, 1t has
developed through nearly three years
of experience a unique course OF train
ing for leadership in women's trade IN
ion organizations. The ever increas-
ing number Of women entering every
trade and the successful social upris-
ings Of the workers In the sweated In
dustries emphasize the need Of this
training, which the league undertook
to provide at the initiative Of Mrs.
Raymond Robins, its president
Mrs. Robins furnished its convention
with the background for this action In
a report in which she effectively de-
tailed the movement In England to af-
ford facilities for self culture and Or
ganized educational advantages to
wageworkers, beginning with the ef-
forts Of the Rochdale Cooperative Flo
neers and eliminating in the co-opera-
tion between the Workers Education
al association and the universities of
England and Wales. Her recommen-
dations resulted not only in the estaD-
lishment OF this school, but in the
adoption of an educational policy Tor
the league.
Three classes of students are re
ceived into the school-those whom the
league asks to leave their trades tc
J take the training to fit them to become
organizers, those sent by their OWL
unions or central labor bodies to I'm
prove their efficiency In working fol
the organization and those who come
at their own initiative and On theu
own responsibility.
The academic work covers foul
months, the courses including, besides
English, public speaking and otne
necessary preparatory work, the stud!
and analysis Of judicial decisions al
fecting labor injunctiOns, boycotts, etc
economic history and the history 0
organized labor. elementary economic
and modern radicalism. Somss9f tines
corsrseg ara aiken az ~ ~ = sasssca y
School Of Civics and Philanthropy an,
the University Of Chicago.
The eight months Of field work in
clude the theory and practice OF or
ganization, attendance at meetings 0
unions and the Federation Of Labor
conferences with their men and won
en- leaders, analysis of trade agree
ments, writing for the press, study 0
police court methods and instruction
In suffrage and civic duties. Atten
ton Is given to health, exercise In tn
gymnasium and regular recreation. A.
extension department offers CORE
spondence courses and public lectures
A group of the students Is In residenc
at Chicago Commons.
Mrs. Robins thus states the school
motive and enters its plea: "Our day
work is in the main directed to tn
immediate aspects and demands OF til
struggle, but we cannot act wisely no
fully understand the meaning of tn
hour in which we live unless we kee
In mind the underlying causa ior thee
conditions and the fundamental prin
ciples Of justice. Today, as yesterday
where there is no vision, the peOpl
perish and today, as yesterday. th
spirit must be born to see the vision
to hold 1t, to live and die for it, II
release and set free this spirit, so tina
1t may achieve its purpose foretold II
the hidden heart Of man-to show tn
path Of freedom, to bring hope. faith
courage, to those held in bondage ant
crushed under the weight of wrong
and to give them the message, To you
too, has been given the dominion owe
life'-this is our task.
eve therefore ask those who recog
nize In today's Industrial struggle TIN
challenge Of democracy and those wht
believe that the great heritage OF thu
past In thought and act, in history
science and poetry, belongs to all tn.
people, to help US work out the mos
effective plan to meet the demands fol
further educational opportunity of the
~orking women of America. Survey