The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-10
A SCHOOL FOR PLAsrERERs.


In San Francisco. there was formed
about a year ago, an organization
styling itself The Industrial Asso-
citation of san Francisco Its .avowed
purposes are the protection of the
public in matters related to industry:
particularly as against closed shop
combinations inimical to the public
veal, and to attempt to prevent in
dustrial disorder by removing the
cause.
The association, in making a sur
vey of industry. has found that the
community and the nation as well
are suffering because OF acute short
age of plasterers, which of course
greatly retards building operations. 1t
decided that the only way to relieve
the shortage is to train young men 10
become plasterers. To do this. the
Association. at a cost of from eight to
ten thousand dollars, has established
and equipped a plasterers' school.
On May 1 an initial class of twenty
five young men began their training
under the supervision OF a thoro-
ly competent and experienced plaster
err who will instruct them in orna-
mental as we'll as plain plastering.
There were fifty applicants for ad-
mission. to the school. which is
equipped to handle only twenty-five at
a time. All applicants were required
to meet certain physical standards as
to weight. height, etc. The Associa-
ton felt, however. that it did not
wish to waste time and money in at
tempting to train anyone lacking a
certain standard OF mental capacity.
Accordingly. the fifty applicants were
given a psychological test. This test
takes no concern of knowledge or
education. but is based entirely on
intelligence.
The results of the. test of the fifty
applicants are interesting. One young
man scored 1O7 out of a possible lis
points. and a number scored from
eighty to ninety. One, who was al
most a perfect physical specimen,
scored only Al points and several fell
below sixty. All applicants were re-
CURED to state the grade at which
they left school, and it is pointed out
that the one who scored 1O7 had had
the most schooling, while the one who
scored FL, had the least.
The twenty-five who rated highest
in this test, and in general physical
qualifications, were selected and are
now enrolled in the school There,
they are receiving intensive training.
eight hours a day, five and one-halfl
days q week. At the end of twelve
weeks they will be placed at once or
jobs. and inside OF a year are expected
to be earning full journeyman pIas-
terer's wages. The Association has
gone so far. even, as to pay the mar
ried men in the class a small per
diem in order to enable them to take
the course.
The advantage OF this kind of train
ing. the Association holds. Is three
fold. First. the mental test by which
the personnel OF the class is selected
insures a fair degree OF intelligence.
which will contribute to the crafts
mans general skill and efficiency, and
render him less susceptible to the
specious pleas of labor agitators
Second. only a sufficient number of
plasterers to meet the community's
actual needs win be trained. Third
the raining-because Of the intensive
methods employed-wiIl be accom-
plished in one years time. whereas
formerly four years were required.