Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-26
UNION COLLEGES
HAVE WIDE SCOPE
by RALPH BURTON

u
WASHINGTON, July 23.-Labor
does not intend to be caught nap
ming if it's claims for participation
in the control of industry are grant
ed. In the United States at the
present time some 25 trade union
colleges are in existence, and among
their objects is the one very impor-
tant one of training young men IN
the labor movement Cor adminlstra-
tive positions when the hopes of Ia
Dor for industrial democracy are
realized.
The scope of the trade union col
lege movement is surprising even
to those familiar with the work Ia
Dor organizations are doing in TINS
country. Some of these educational
institutions show symptoms of be-
coming full-fledged universities
with professional schools in the
fields of law, economics, engineer
ing and business administration. In
many cities university professors
give most of the instruction, and
during the winter season enrollmenl
in the classes is large.
Like most new ventures in the Ia
Dor movement, the trade union col
leges have been for the most part
sponsored by the more radical ele-
ments in organized labor, and amone
those elements, at least, the posi-
bilities of the colleges for educat-
ing working men for leadership in
industry when workers control be-
gins to gain Roadway are never los'
sight of. Among the rank and file
of trade unionists, however, the
more immediate objects of personal
| in rn11.
eral culture and training of union
organizers are, predominant. The
avowed aims of most of the col
leges are to spread education in the
rank and file, though 16 also make
specially of training union eXecu
tives. Three give propaganda as
principal aim, and one expresses as
part of it's purpose "constructlVe
social revolution"
English and economics are mos
strongly stressed in the trade union
colleges, with literature, political
science and public speaking perhaps
next in order. Law courses, relat'
ing particularly to labor problems
are popular, and the history of the
Der of institutions. In Washington
and in New York City the colleges
give courses in the democratic con-
troll of industry, covering various
plans advanced to date whereby
working men may have greater con-
troll over their work. Current events
mathematics, sociology, industrial
ment, the history of civilization, -psy-
chology, plan reading, socialism
surveys of industrial progress and
bookkeeping and accounting are sub
jects of courses given in one or more
trade union colleges. A few empha-
size the physical development OF
members and offer gymnasium
training. At least two have made
arrangements for research work in
labor problems.
A survey of the trade union col
leges recently completed by the
Pennsylvania state federation of Ia
Dor indicated that older men were
more numerous in the student bodies
than young men, except where the
colleges were conducted under the
auspices of somewhat radical I'M
ions. 1t is also observed that wom-
en- are not much attracted to the
courses unless they are members OF
radical unions.
of the trade union college movement
is the establishment of a resident
college for workers, the first in this
country, at Katonah, N Y, which
its sponsors say, is not intended as
a propaganda institution, but
rather aims to unite with the
American labor movement force
of education that will serve Amer
lean labor with trained, responsible,
literally educated men and women
from the ranks of the workers.
Among the labor leaders interested
in the project are John Fitzpatrick,
prominent in the labor party move
ment, and Rose Schneidermann, pres
ident of the Women's Trade unions.