The Pedagogical Seminary (Volume 17) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1910. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION IN CHICAGO By May Wood-s1mons CHAPTER I Social Conditions Creating Demand For Industrial Education Causes, that are leading to a general demand for industrial education, must be sought in two directions. First, in those changes in economic organization that have destroyed the old form of apprenticeship; second, in the force of international competition, that is compelling each industrial nation to utilize not only its raw materials but to perfect, as far as possible, its productive labor in order to maintain itself against competition. The early apprenticeship system, fostered by the guilds, was forced practically to disappear with the advent of modern factory production. The busy workshops of the great industries, with their extreme subdivision of labor, are not the places in which a boy can be trained in all the phases of his trade and become an all-around craftsman. With a large and expensive plant and subjected to close competition employers are primarily interested in the production of profit. That the product may be as large as possible, an efficient workman is required to handle each machine. With the present organization of industry, the responsibility of each workman in factory or shop lies in his completing that part of the productive process that falls to him. With every man in the industry thus engaged in producing there are none who can give time to the instruction of the beginner. The old time apprentice, who was taught the intricacies of the entire craft by a masterworkman, has no place in the modern factory. The beginner is started upon some special branch, to handle a single machine. Here he is expected to develop as quickly as possible into an efficient machine tender, a valuable producer. When an expert in handling one mac...