The Connecticut labor news., 1924-12-06


 equivalent of high school training for a few hours each weeS as com pelled by law.
 Three trade unionists are respons1- ble in a large measure for the cont1n- nation school and apprentice training tenn. They are Fred F. Moran, Inter national Printing Pressmen's ana As sistants' Union; John Mulholland, International Pattern Makers League, and Peter J.. Brady, International Photo Engravers' Union. Seven years ago in the New York State Federation of Labor they began the working out of an education program which IS in- tended to make the next generation of workers equal in every respect 10 the boys and girls who are studying for the profession. Not merely that, but ! in organized trades, 1t is practically certain these boys and girls will earn more. .sl
 The acute need for skilled workers was revealed during the World War, when 1t was no longer possible for the United States to depend upon getting skilled workers from Europe. On look ling about, it was found that industry, while placidly taking trained men from abroad, except in few instances, was not training anyone. oSme unions like the brfcklayers, photo engravers, print CTS and sheet metal workers, had been l training their own boys under difficult ties. These organizations cherished skill and forced those who wished to I join to meet test of competency. Thus they alone were the protectors ot good l workmanship.
 ] Then 1t became evident that the South European immigrant, in addi- ton to being illiterate, was not good material to make a mechanic out of. l This brought the American youth to the fore, and 1t was found that the only means of training them rationally and in sufficient numbers was through the public school system, one of the outstanding wonders of American life.
 Far sighted trade unionists pointed out that democratic system of edu- cation should not neglect the working boy or girl and in 1918 the conrinua ton school law was passed in New I York state and provided for classes for these children. Simultaneously, the movement for apprentice rrainfng began.
 A private organization, the New York Building Congress, composed of employers representatives ana labor leaders, began to work out scheme of apprentice training, in conjunction with the public schools. It was primarily ,the work of the congress 10 get ern lployers to agree to provide work for the thousands of boys that the unions had on hand and whom they were willing to send to school if practical course of training, supplementary to the work on the job, could be devised.
 This has been done with the result that in nearly every building trade in the city( where the high type of work manship gets the largest returns, ap- prentices are being developed, in an orderly manner to supply the needs of industry. The apprenticeship com mission is now conducting 2 classes for embryo carpenters, nearly as many for brick1ayers, ten for electrI- cal workers, two for painters and decorators, one for draftsmen, four for lphoto-engravers eight for sheet metal workers and six for plasterers.
 More than 4,000 boys i'll these trades are going to school at least two hours, sometimes four hours, each week on the employers time. Any i boy absent is brought up before the union meeting. This iasures good at tendance The morale Is high and fine workman spirit is developing The system is being duplicated in nearly every large city where cordial relations exist between employers and unions in the building industry.
 Eventually it is hoped this system of employer -union-pubhc school ap- prentice training will eliminate the wasteful trade schools and the half skilled mechanic and national sys- tme will be developed that will give American industry what it requires, skilled men of the highest type to re- tain industrial supremacy and eff ciency for the nation. In this work lies one of the most promising i'm provements in American life.
 As in initiating the system of pub