New Britain herald., 1925-01-14
WALSH HITS AT
 : SCHOOL SYSTEM
Says They Are Turning Out
 Human Scrap Heap

An attack on educational authori- ties and on trade schools was made by D. M, Walsh at the convention of the Master House Painters and Decorators of Connecticut at its con- vention today in the Burritt hotel, Mir. Walsh charged the trade schools with discrimination against the painting trades and, after thorough investigation of the trade schools in this state. declared that these trade schools. properly conducted, are the only-way of salvaging 90 per cent of American youth from the human scrap heap.
 "Is the great expenditure of money under our present public school system justified in view of the returns we get?" MT. Walsh's paper begins. The spectacle of 90 per cent of our boys and girls being turned out Of our public schools into occupations of public life they know nothing about is most depl6rable. This Is a waste of product of huge proportions that would not be toler- ated in'any other industry. The most humble workman pays his share of taxes, yet he remains in his lethargic state with his children getting a raw deal in the public schools where they are being classified and graduated into the human scrap heap of 90 per cent without intelligence enough for good citizenship.
 "The teachers who imbues the pupils with the idea that the white- collar trades should be his aim in life is disregarding positive future re- suits and is a menace to the com- munity. The teacher who falls to impress his pupils with the knowl- edge that there is great dignity in a trade should not be allowed to teach. The teaching of little bit of everything and not much of any thing without considering the back ground of the pupils life work is ineauitable and discriminating and should cease to be part of our sys- tenn.
 Help is given to advanced edu- cation in too large a measure, and this affects such small number of people that it is endangering the life of our public in so much as the ma jority of people pay taxes without getting ample remuneration"
 What is to .become of the boy who graduates out of the elementary schools at the age of IA? The state employment bureau would undoubt- edly refuse him a permit to work providing he could enter a trade school that was functoning proper ly wherein he would get the ground work of a trade with related ele- mentary education that would give him a proper start for his future oc- cupation. Production per individual is fast diminishing because the only chance Of acquiring education Is the acquiring of strong arm and a weak mind. T4 |
 "A trade school to function prop erly should teach ali trades on an equitable basis with equal distribu' ton of effort and no privileges for any trade. It's director should be ln sympathy with all trades, especially the building trades that relate SC closely to the home, which is the bed rock of civilization. The curri- cuIum should be made attractive and the boy or girl given at least 25 per cent academic training.
 Vocational training in the high schools has so little responsibility and is so poorly related to the fact: of vocations that 1t is in grea' measure an educational farce. The teaching of vacations in high schools Is a mistake: these should be taught in trade schools in which the spirit and technique partake of the ac' curacy and skill that alone can give them significance.
 Higher standards of living are direct result of better trade educa ton which mGses workers more ef' ficient and increases their wage earning capacity. There is no mar who will deny boy an academic education with the groundwork O trade, and in view of such ther' is no reason why the trade school should not progress most favorabl! from now on. The authorities of th' school should make the course at tractive enough to draw boys, anC cooperation should be furnished b. the state employment bureau anc the masters of trades.
 Tt is the height of discrimination to expect the master painter to pro vide the boy for the painting clas or expect him to absorb the boy il advance of his graduation. Tn schools do not do it In other trades such as machinists or electrica workers; they induce him to- joil these classes. Then why not us the same efforts to get the boy t join the painting class? Why dis criminate? With all things equal the master painter will be foun' foremost In cooperating with tn SClOOl py elNluB PdiL tlihC to oo vanced students, with two boys to shop, alternating in school and shop and by other means, This enable the boy to be paid to get an educa ton and a trade and adds interes and attractiveness to the class.
 Trying to absorb boys previous t a background training is conductiv to exploitation by interruptions mas ters for material gain. and l hay found them taking the place 0 other workers for less money, givin the opposition sn opportunity t brand our motives as selfish.
 Find out whether the authoritie arc ignorant of these conditions tha they alone should be held responsi ble for. Ask them what they ar going to do about 1t. This preten