Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-30
DEAN r. l.. SACKETT
How the Technical College Influences
Tnducfpy

Industry
TIIE relation of the technical college to
industry is m important one and one
not so we'll understood by the public as it
should be-. says Dean Sackett. Of the Engi-
Meering School of Pennsylvania State Col
lege, who Is spending year In Philadelphia
IN the interest Of that institution.
''The technical colleges" said Dean
Sackett. train men to enter the industries,
including transportation and distribution.
With experience large percentage OF engi,
neer!nR graduates become executives ana
"nter tho management side OF industry. 1t
is being recognized TINT tho human element
Is. after ALL the keynote of stable. efficient
industry, and therefore it is important that
the technical schools give due emphasis to
charr ctcr, the square deal and the elemental
rights Of a'l employees in industry, as we'll
as to the scientific planning Of factories. the
selection Of materials and machinery and the
other practical factors In economical pro-
duction.
Influence Of Trained Man
"Evrry we'll balanced course In industrial
engineering must TAX" due account OF the
human clement, and in time the technically
trained engineer will influence still more our
industrial life--and for p'ar" and efficiency.
In fact. it s""tns probable that the tech
nicnl colleges will devote more time in the
future to tho management side in the tram
ing Of engineers. Th" management OF men
depends upon IN VI
rights. the reasonable desires OF employees
and the rising standard by which the en-
poye measures the management.
THE technically trained man ought to
have the benefit Of the highest ideals for in
dustry which practical high minded leaders
can set.
1.-THE building program for 1922 has en-
phasized the shortage Of skilled mechanics.
PlAstcrrrs, for example. nrc receiving from
SlI to S24 day. Why this relatively high
wage. considering th" skill required, the
time to learn the trade. seasonal uneinp'o!.
ment an, the various other factors involved:
''The plasterer is not TO be blamed. The
fact IS thnt. while this condition has been
visible to builders for som" time. neither tho
employers. the unions nor the public have
taken steps to provide an adequate supply
OF skilled labor.
..Th4re hos been a radical chnnge in in
dus,ry for which we have not provided.
Formerly boys were apprcnticcd. md after
about four years of scrvi"" they wer" all
round carpenters or mechanics J h" Cen.
tenninl Exposition marh"d III" beginning Of
the age Of power: thea came labor saving
machinery aud the apprentice system be
came Obsolete, apparently on tho assumption
that We no longer needed skilled mechanics.
The Age Of Easy Wealth
"Th"n came the az" Of easy wealth The
.deal IN the mind OF the schOolboy-nnd in
those "f his parcnts--wns tand stlll is 10
mn alarming extent to gain leisure md
casy money 4 white collar job II clerk
ship. q bookkrrpcr. anything except hard
work was the goal.
'"rhc whole world was tainted. Many
tried TO enter college In the belief tn"I til,
led to easy pay without hard work. I'll"
public schools and every other agency need
10 preach the dignity Of labor, the theme Of
The servant IN the House. and I" assist
In n saner selection of yOcAtiOnS.
'It would be unw!se and probably untrue
to say that too man? are going I" collage" ::
b,t certainly 10" Few are lcnruing II GOOD
trade and learning II thoroughly.
"Do you realize that twenty iy" years
Rgo q carpenter was an all round skilled me-
y.,anic. and soda! there are rough rnrpcn.
ters. door hangers, snhA filters hard floor
ing carpenters. finish carpenters, and that
I'm Philadelphia today no one carpentor !s
trained to do all kinds OF work: Tho mod
ern cutpenter does not go on job at the
start of tn" Framework and remain until the
finish is or.
Al Get the Same Wages
"SpcrinIizaiion has entered carpentry n.
| II has entered all other lines Rt least that
is what u builder told me only few ,lays
ago was the ca" In Philadelphia. Note, too
that all recev" the same wng"s Specialize.
ton may be carried too far, a9d SO can the
fiat hourly wage. The problems involved are
more serious than most persons imagine.
''The railroads have been consstentlv y
pursuing a system Of appron,ir" tr;, ming for
many years. and the Metal Trades Associa
ton has Il carefully worked ont and cxten-
siye plan of apprentice training. TIA" New
York Building Congress is an association
| representing bankers, builders and the labor
! unions. II is now operating scheme ~
apprentice training for cnrncnt"rs. aud will
| extend it to the other buldin2 trades MS
| fast as possible.
'dodern industry cannot devote four
l years Of time to the training Of spprenticpS.