The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-24


elder brothers-and not the youth
who write these letters. That is
why ] am writing now in order
to tell the adult and the young
workers in Western countries how
we young workers live in the U.
S. s. r., and especially about the
life and work Of the young work
ers of the State brake factory in
Moscow.
Our factory is turning out
Westinghouse brakes and employs
500 male and female workers, of
whom about 1870 are young work
ers. Now the conditions of the
young workers are much better
than before. In the first instance
there is a law which prohibits the
employment of children under IA.
At that age children must 60 to
school. Between the age Of IA and
16 children can be employed in
light work and not for more than
four hours daily. This enables
them to study. There is a six hour
day for workers between the ages
of is and IS, and it is only after
the age of Is that young workers
have to work 8 hours like the
other adult workers. The young
people who work 4 and hours
day receive full pay, namely, as
much as they would receive for an
S-hour day.
There is a Young Communist
League nucleus in the factory for
the young workers, with 105 mem
bers. This shows that nearly all
the young workers are members
of the Y. G. L. This nucleus is
doing splendid work in the fac
tory, it has its own representatives
in all the factory organizations,
such as the factory committee,
the protection of labor committee,
etc. which defend the interests
of the young workers. The nue.
leus is also carrying on educa-
tional work among the youth; it
has organized various circles in
Gliding a political iteracy study
circle. The nucleus is also teach
ing everyone how to live in COM
mune and how to exercise COM
radly discipline. There is also a
club in the factory, and the mem
bership is made up mostly Of
Young Communists and young
people in general.
The club has many circles
dramatic circles, a circle for choir
singing, and a circle for band
practice, a radio circle and many
others, to which mostly young
workers belong. Thus we are not
only given an opportunity, but we
are even encouraged to take up all
kinds of studies. The factory has
also a school for apprentices
which has at present 80 pupils, II
of whom will have accomplished
their apprenticeship in the school
year 24-25, about June 1925.
Their apprenticeship will have
lasted four years. Every year
there will be fresh patches of
young people who have gone
through their full apprenticeship
course. This apprenticeship school
is doing much good to the young
workers, for in addition to being
taught to read and write and to
become an educated being, they
are taught some trade or other.
There is one particular thing
of which / must tell you, and that
is, that there is in our school a
committee consisting of the stu
dents Themselves which conducts
all the affairs of the school. This
committee discusses together with
the instructors everything con-
corning the school. 1t decides
what subjects should be taught
and by what methods. 1t also
helps to draw up the plan of work
for every pupil and every pedag-
ogue. The plan in vogue is that
every pupil does the special task
allotted to him or her, in accord
ance with the school syllabus. The
apprenticeship lasts four years.
The first year is considered a pre-
paratory year with a six-hour
day. During the remaining
three years four hours are devoted
to theoretical studies and four to
practical work in the factory. Our
school is really meant to be for
the children of the workers of our
factory. But it also admits on
special recommendation pupils
from children's homes and young
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