South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-04
Ocdtiondl Training Glasses
In Local Stores Become Firm
Part OF Successful Business

and working conditions OF the WORK
ers
The result Of technical training
for the employe. in office. machine
shop or foundry. has demonstrated
its value and pracIcabilty and
truly essential merits and, more
than any other one thing. has
brought nearer together those who
prepare and those who sign the pay
rolls
Raw Material" seek Jobs.
Tie who would ridicuie the value
or education 20 the worker is him
self subject 20 ridicule. The II
year-old girl and the 16-year-ol
boy who leave school 20 look for a
job are the raw material" from
which industry secures the most OF
is employees. That this vast army
should be encouraged TO seek tram
ing IN the mulutudinous lines OF
employment they choose IS de-
manded for the economic develop
ment OF industry and the rising TO
a higher intellectual and moral
plane Of the race itself
But a significant feature Of tech
nical education as applied 10 indus
try is the more recent adoption OF
the practice by firms doing "A strict
ly commercial business Recogniz-
ing the value Of special vocational
training 70 employees Of manufac-
turing concerns, other lines Of en-
terprise. particularly those firn5
which maintain large forces Of Of
flee clerks, have adopted the for
lnula and seek 70 obtain for their
employees and themselves the NUT
Ual advantages derived
Much Shifting Among Clerks.
The latest application of voca-
tional training. however. is the in
auguration of classes in dry goods
establishments and department
stores. Not alone did this applica-
ton Of the principle invoke sur
prise at its original inception. as
was shown by general speculation
by writer's a single decade ago. be-
cause OF the nature Of the business
done which involved a constant
shifting Of employees between de-
partments, but principally on &C
count Of the greater majority Of the
workers being women. Then. too.
1t was pointed out. the temporary
job-seeker and business competition
in the salaries paid by the stores
created a constant changing of the
clerical personnel New names on
the payrolls were continuously re-
placing others who had quit for
better positions. petty reasons or the
very sufficient reason. to make
homes for themselves by marriage.
But despite the conditions that
prevailed. stores in the larger cities,
where the number Of employees ra2
in some instances into the thou
sands. took the initiative 10 deter
mine whether or not vocational
training would increase efficiency
and better working conditions. They
could in this way, they said. point
out the advantages OF technical
training TO their employees TO pro-
vide the means which would make
them efficient and capable TO hold
positions Of trust and responsibility
with their respective firms.
school Has Proven Its Value.
The plan has worked 10 advantage
at Wyman's. and mutually some
form of the same practice-school
room cIasses-is predicted TO be-
come a part OF the store methods OF
South Bends larger department
stores. Considerable merit for the
system is acclaimed locally. BY the
company which has il Installed a
volume would not hold the praises
spoken for 1t.
Miss Marian Blair is the head OF
class instruction work at the store.