The Connecticut labor press. (New Haven, Conn.) 191?-1921, 1920-12-25

y 1he idea OF the trade school is to fit
the youth whose financial outlook
pointed to his going to work as soon as
possible, into a trade whereby, with
short course in practical working after
leaving school he could take his place
among skilled workers. High paid
theorists were engaged and labor then
objected and insisted that if any good
was to come of the schools the I'M
Struction should be given by practical
men. They finally won some conces-
sions and an advisory board, made up
of the theorists and skilled men repre-
sentlng the trades was agreed to but
SO little interest has this advisory board
taken in the matter of late, that so far
as the skilled men supposed to be on it
are aware, it hasn't held meeting in
IA months or more.
That doesn't mean, however, that a
watch hasn't been kept on the results
by the leaders of the trades. VITA the
exception of the printing trade depart
ment and part of the machinist depart
ment, follow-up of the students woh
took the courses shows that hardly
single one of those who graduated fol-
lowed up the lines in which they spent
their time while in school In other
words they simply wasted years of time
that might perhaps have been devoted
much more benehcia11y to some of the
other studies provided by the city school
system.
In the macl1inist branch at that the
result hasn't been all that could be de-
sired either. Instead of aiding the pupil
to be an all around man capable of GO
ing into shop and doing any kind of
machine work, specialists have been de-
Veloped, so that while one young fellow
might be taught how to operate mill
ing machine another wouldn't know
anything else but a planer or some
other device. This is. not the fault of
the instructors, but of the system which
has fallen into the desires of the manu-
facturers associations forsyoung men to
slide into these special jobs in the shops
instead of having all around men.
The situation was brought before the
Board of Education some weeks ago
when employers complained that they
are unable to secure apprentices from
the school, although the records of the
number attending the classes indi-
cate that there should be a plentiful
supply. Investigation showed that the
plumbing and painting departments,
and other building lines, have PRACTICAL
ly deteriorated into nothing. The rea-
son given is that the boys will not look
kindly upon the dirty work. and want
to become mechanics of the white collar
class. The canvass of the situation
showed such conditions that the board
proposed to abolish, for the time at
least. these two branches, but according
to President Anquillaire of the board
objections were raised by the employ
ers' associations and the matter held
up.
The woodworking department, which
was intended to be practical carpentry
is not giving satisfaction either, the stu
dents for the most part being very will
ing to spend the time making fancy
woodwork but loath to go outsapd do
job that an ordinary carpenter would be
called upon to do. The city a few
years ago, when renlodeling the city hall
annex tried out its trade school system
by having lot of the pupils attempt to
assist in carpentry, painting and plumb
ing work in the building. Even with
the aid of practical men they did more
damage than good and the whole thing
had to be done over again.
Boys sent out on small jobs for prac-
tical instruction also make joke of 1t, s
according to reports One instance of
where a couple were sent to aid a
carpenter in some school repairs, shows
the attitude. The boys reported alright
and after getting on the job found
football and spent most of several days
kicking the ball aroundein a lot near the
school.
The board of education asked for
500, $500 for instruction in the trade
school next wear. The finance board cut
this is to $55,0O0. The school board
may noweconsolidate some of the de-
partrnents and endeavor to give some
practical benefit instead of the preesnt
inadequate return to either employer or
the scholar.