training of one year or more after the age of 16 would help to meet the problem of skilled employees in their business; three firms representing 132 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of thirteen firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advantageously administered by the State or community at public expense and operated on a non-commercial product; representatives of three firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of eleven firms state that in their judgment such schools would be practical if conducted by industrial establishments or a combination of such establishments and operated on a commercial product; representatives of five firms answer this question in the negative. Thirteen firms report that practical evening, or part time, trade schools would be of value in helping unskilled workers, or those of low-grade skill, to advance to positions requiring high-grade skill; five firms answer this question in the negative. III. ATTITUDE OF LABOR UNIONS TOWARD INDUSTRIAL AND TRADE SCHOOLS. In order to ascertain the attitude of organized labor toward industrial training in institutions apart from commercial practice, questions in regard to two types of schools were submitted. to 2,451 unions of the State. The first question was as follows: "Do you favor a public industrial or preparatory trade school, which should endeavor to reach boys and girls between 14 and 16, that now leave the common school in very large numbers before graduation? Such a school would not teach a trade, but would give a wide acquaintance with materials and fundamental industrial processes together with drawing and shop mathematics, with the object of giving a better preparation for entering the industries at 16 and better opportunities for subsequent advancement." The wording of this question was made very explicit in order that the nature of the school indicated should be clearly understood. It is evident, however, from some of the comments received that in spite of the reference to the maximum age of 16 years that this school was interpreted as a trade school. The second question was as follows: "Do you favor public trade schools for boys and girls between 16 and 18, that would give two years of practical training together with drawing and mathematics, provided the graduates of such schools should serve two years more as apprentices or improvers ?" The proviso that graduates of such schools should serve two years after leaving the school as apprentices or improvers was incorporated in order that the question as to the trade school might be answered on its merits. A simple question as to a trade school without reference to the status of the graduates would undoubtedly be answered in the negative by a large majority of labor unions because of the feeling that graduates of such schools would compete at once for journeymen's wages. The question of the status of such graduates is naturally the most important element in the view of organized labor, and unless this matter be defined it is hardly to be expected that a frank expression as to the desirability or possibility of trade schools as instruments of training can be obtained. The replies to these questions were in some cases obtained by a vote of the union and the others represent the opinion of the president or secretary of the union. The returns that are most significant in regard to Question 2 are of course those from the unions representing the skilled mechanical trades, such as stone working and building trades, car builders, telegraphers, iron and steel workers, ship builders, printers, and wood workers. A number of comments were received with the returns from the unions, certain of which seem of sufficient significance to present in this part of the report. In selecting these extracts endeavor has been made to present a balance of favoring and opposing comments. When this is not the case it is because the returns received did not allow of such presentation. These comments are inserted just after the following tables, which contain the results of the general inquiry among the unions. TABLE F.-ATTITUDE OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS INDUSTRY AND TRADE. DO YOU FAVOR A PUBLIC INDUSTRIAL OR PREPARATORY TRADE SCHOOL, WHICH TOW ARD INDUSTRIAL AND TRADE SCHOOLS. DO YOU FAVOR PUBLIC TRADE SCHOOLS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS BETWEEN 16 AND 18, THAT TOTAL. |