New Britain herald., 1925-01-17
THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM
 AND THE TRADES

Tho attack upon alleged dis criminatory methods against the painting trade by the state trade schools, made by E. M Walsh at the convention of the Master House Painters and Decorators of aonnecti- cut in this city. was entirely within the scope of a master painters con- ,cntion. It had to do with methods and not with tho trade school prin- cjple, which the speaker praised highly.
 When Mir Walsh included an at { tack upon the public school system as whole, saying that under it 90 per cent of our boys and girls are graduated upon the human scrap heap" he covered considerable terri tory
 Educators say that the American school system was founded to pro vide the basis of a general education, It might be well if this could be inn parted in a shorter time, but as a rule it takes until child is II to got through the elementary schools.
 Some critics of the system con- cjude that at least one of the func- lions of the public school system 1 should be also to give the child a { foundation for his life calling, which i in the majority of cases means some useful work or trade.
 There has been much contention Of sort in past years regarding , these matters. and as a result there l was evolved two avenues Of educa- l ti0n-one of which might hc termed ] the cultural and the other the utii- tartan. And as q compromise it IS possible to take one or the other after certain term Of years in learning fundamentals. Whereas we i have public schools, and high schools, and co1lcgcs and universities for the attainment Of broad, literal education, we also have trade schools, trade universities under various names. and even colleges de- voted to engineering and mechani- cal learning,
 It does rot need a teacher 10 im- buc a pupil with the idea Of follow ing q so-caIed white collar occupa' ton. Ii there is money in following sucb au occupation, the urge to enter i. comes naturally. no matter what kind of school the pupil may be at' tending Do we not constantly read of a lawyer who began life ln the shop, of merchants and dealers IT various commodities who 'graduat- ad" from the trades; of mon in high posi.ion who rose from the ranks To the ambitions, who at the same time have talent and perseverance, many if not all things are possible
 And ro doubt there have been paint ITS who have gone into the real es' tate business and employed others to paint ,heir houses for them. IT other words, 'hey became whit@-coI' far executives.
 Mr. Walsh asks polutc4.y. wha, | to bccome of the boy who gTa1natc' from the elementary schools at th' ago of fl. Educators will say tha he ought 10 hay" the groundwork 0 an educauon fitting him 10 choose vocation to which Ls was fitted, an' making lcaIvay iu Il,
 The truth Of ,ne matter iS that d .l4a boy is too young 10 b" cttirrn at trade aud also too Iomg-un less he Is a ecldu,-to h2 efficient '
 ngarly m.tniag else, l. Is all age Il
 fife waou th,r> is d fill Of bo}hoo'
 powers but tacN of th" mature 
 pow,rs that count for much l" 'o
 mars of cadcalo or. Most boys al iha
 lgv ur. m 1 quundary as to "h'
 they wish To Io Th"y need aA"i guidance moye than a"yihing '.+'r
 Mr. Walsh IS entirely nsht ln s"5
 irg that start toward son"ih'"
 worthwhile. including a trade, Ca
 we'll be- developed among many boy
 a, that agc. It is from this Nanlag
 point in the argument tha. he stand
 , -., g. rrrauud