Evening Star Newspaper, February 7, 1926, Page 73

ILLUSTRATED FEATURES Part 5—8 Pages Boys of BY W. R. McCALLUM. ULFILLING the soul ambition of any voungster who has ever handled » keen-edged knife, or one who has viewed the in- tricate movements of a type- sstting machine, Washington has only cently fallen in linc with scores of other citles scattered over the land and opened the first school here de- voted solely to teaching the youth of the city trades In which they may tind their lfe worlk. The boy who has not had the pleas- ure of possessing a sharp knife, the 12d who has not handled the awesome tools used in the plumbing trade, or the workmanlike instruments of ‘the tinsmith has missed a big part of his vouthful experience. And the lad who has viewed the beautifully edged prod- uct of a high-class print shop has felt the universal thrill of admiration at what can be accompilshed with a few picces of type, some ink and a plece of vayer. Untll last September Washington Wau no public school in which the anual hunger of the vouth of the 1 be sa the urge to with tools practical way, amibition to work with the | d at the same time laying tion for possible life worl 1 the school last Sep- T Wash- . an opportunity was opened for s of the city to study useful a school devuted golely to vocational education. The Years one of the . in the triangle 1 Sixth streets, avenue and K street, be: most overnight the vocational dquarters of a public school sys- hich up to that time had offered ltmited vocational training and in the clerical end. For ‘my of boys who had the to work with their hands in metal or Wood there was no outlet in chool, and they plodded through the ly Yound of academic learning with- it the stimulus that fs now possible ) the manual lahor channel that is frered them. ACK of the movement for voca- tional treining of the Washington hoolboy initiated at the Abbott chool is a firm foundation that will the groundwork for many a Wash- ington boy's for Washington employers and the trade union locals bere have joined in a co-operative «rganization” to aid the school, and ave agreed to place the graduates of this new vocational venture in which the school system has embarked. In lune, 1927, the first group of boys— the real ploneers in the new move- ent—will graduate from the Abbott School. Then will be known, or at any rate within a few years there- after, the practical results of this in- vovation in Washington—something antirely new to the Capital but an old | nd well established {nstitution in some | municipalities much smaller than the Capital City. For citles not one- ourth the size of Washington long %o learned the true value of teach- & the youth of the land to use his nds in some way that would give im a concrete foundation for his! ture—somethirg more pncucall han the academic book learning which the youngster forgets all too! ten, once the doors of the public | ool have closed on him forever. | There always has been something | hout an edged tool that appeais to | e normal youngster of 10 to 20| rs, a something that finds expres- Sion frequently in the possession of a toadsticker” Rnife, and that only vithin the last four years has made | of many youngsters considerably short | of maturity expert radio technicians. ! r in no vocation is keenness or | technical ability so important as in radio construction work. The new | ocational school has not yet a radio | ourse, but the future may bring that | \iso. It has, however, even in these its nfant days, courses in printing, me- hanical drawing, sheet metal work- | ng, painting, woodworking and rlumbing The last two are really wew—only within the last three days lave they been opened up and they vre expected to be the most popular of the trade courses at the Abbott. P "[[HE Abbott Vocattonal School is by no means an_institution where hoys go who could not get ahead in cademic work. On the other hand, is a school of instruction for the crious-minded lads who, krowing the ‘white collar”” professions are over- <rowded and will doubtless remain so, huose themselves. or with their par- onts' guidance, a vocation in which hey will work with their hands. W. . Smith, the careful principal «f the school, who is most enthusiastic -bout the progress of the work and iredicts a great future for vocational chools in the Capital, says this mat- ter of getting the youth of the land to give up the “white collar” idea is Tamaki Miura, Famous Singer, Trained by Wife of Envoy BY PRESTON WRIGHT. INCE Japan assumed the dignity of a world power she has pre- sented u long llst of famous soldiers and statesmen. But none of them 1s so celebrated ;s a tiny doll of a woman known to lovers of music everywhere us Tamaki Miura. 1t she had been the child of poor people she might never have had her gift recognized. But her father was + well-to-do man, sbe had an uncle who was a_millionalre, and her fam- 1ly generally moved in exclusive so- cial circles. This explains how when Tamaki Miura was 12 years of age she was present at a charity concert given b: Alme. Laudon, wife of the Dutch am- bassador to Japan in Tokio. Mme. | Laudon had a lovely mezzo-sopruno voice. When little Tamakl Miura heard her sing an “Ave Maria” she was moved to tears. Singing gave her so much joy she decided that she would go to this voman with the lovely voice to ask .bout her own voice. She felt sure she would be received sympatheti- ally. Madame,” she said, after she had expressed her admiration, “I have a favor to ask—that you will hear me =ing.” T‘im kindly Dutchwoman invited #he girl to come to her residence. She expressed surprisc after hearing one simple little song. “That's very nice,” she said. She was eufficiently interested to make further tests. She sang scales, then snatches of songs and various novements from operas, bidding Tu- maki Miura to imitate her. And the rl did everything that . trained singer did. Suddenly Mme. Lau threv "ars about the child, her Washingt‘on Authorities Fall in Line With Numerous Other Cities Which Prepare Youth for Manual Work Which Will Meet Demands of Industrial Life and Lessen Competition in White-Collar Occupations—Abbott School Has Been City Landmark for Years and Overnight Became Vocational Headquarters—Employers and Labor Organizations Take Cordial Attitude Toward Public Enterprises—How the Work Is Conducted Under Teachers Qualified as Experts. Clace in Type Setbing MAGAZINE SECTION - The Sunday Stae WASHINGTON, D. , SUNDAY Metal Clas soeTeT ey & s PPTRpe—, FRAITIR T 2 most difficult. And the hardest job is to convince parents that some one has to do the work of the world— the work that only trained hands will do. she exclaimed, “'you have | You | “My dear,” a beautiful, & wonderful voice! would be good in opera!” Now began an eplsode which is one | of the most remarkable in the history | of music. The wif dor turned teacher b r that this Japanese maiden might have adequate instruction. Tamaki Miura went to the ambassadorial mansion ever and Mme. Laudon spent hours teach- ing her. The foundation of the Japanese Academy of Music, with the importa- tion of European teachers, had en- larged the range of possible study in music. In time Tamaki Miura entered the academy, where, under the in- struction of & German, Prof. Yunker, she soon became noted as the bes pupil. This was tantamount to being recognized as the first singer of Japan, and, indeed, the fame of the girl soon was spread far and wide. Quite naturally, Prof. Yunker ad- vised her to continue her studies in Germany. She now had ambitions to become an operatic singer, but her conservative family objected. More- over, the $4,000 needed for the sojourn in Germany would dent the exchequer rather seriously. The millionaire uncle was a progres- sive man, in sympathy with the tenets of the new Japan. He solved the situ- atlon for Tamaki Miura by supplying the needed $4,000 and she went to Germany for study with the cele- brated Lili Lehmann. This was in 1914. She had scarcely arrived when the World War broke out. Japan took sides against Ger- many, and, as & subject of Toklo, she departed from the alien country. But the German government held most of the funds she had in the bank, and when she arrived in England, the| nearest ajly of the Japanese, she had | only about $300. Bbo cabled bome. War-time frane- - ¥ ltlum More and more, however, we find boys willing to spend the two years | required here for training in some vocational course that will give them a fine opening for lifetime trade.” Mr. mission was bad and her appeal for help never arrived. She had hoped to continue her studies in England, but she decided she would have to go o work. In her extremity she wrote to Sir Henry Wood, the hest conductor in England. telling him she was a Japa- nese girl who wanted to study, and would he please heur her. No reply. A month passed. She wrote again. Her broken English ap- parently made no impression. She wrote a third time, on this occasion re- citing the fact that she had been the best pupil in the Japanese Academy and telling how, when Prince Henry of Connaught visited Japan, she had sung for him at court. This brought her a hearing before Sir Henry. Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston__ Churchill, was present. Tamaki Miura sar< the “Caro Nome' from “Rigoletto” and two Japanese songs. “Why, you bave a beautiful volce!” Lady Churchill declared. *“The high notes remind me of Melba's.” This praise was backed up by an in- vitation to Tamaki to take part in a big patriotic concert at Albert Hall the following month. “Adelina. Patti is to sing, too,” she was told. She had never heard any of the great singers, and she did not fear appearing on the same stage with Pattl, who then was in her 74th year. But when she came to immense Al- bert Hall, with a vast audience before her, and found the beautiful Patti looking like 2 womian of 35, she began to have doubts. Nevertheless she sang—and with all the courage she had. She never had sung so well, she felt, as she ended. It was the *‘Caro Nome” once more, and it brought her u tremendous ov l - — ACosoTizht, 19263 .. s Smith said. ““The clerical and execu- tive jobs are excellent, but some one in the world has to do the hard work. And here the boys learn how."” More important still than ruining a goodly number of clerks for horny- handed sons of toll is the effect the new movement is expected to have on the labor market in Washington. And it should be said at the outset that the school contracts and will man- fully try to carry out its contract to place every graduate in a paying job when his two-year course is completed. “The boys of Washington are here given a real opportunity to find them- selves,” Mr. Smith continues. “We feel that the boy who comes here, tries out our varfous courses and finds something for which he is fitted, men- tally and physically, will make a bet- ter workman. Even better, we believe he will make a better citizen, for our courses are aimed at elimination of misfits from jobs which do not suit them. We feel also that happy em- plovment is the real basis of good citizenship, and that the man who is happy in his job will think a long time before embracing the tenets of any of the ‘isms’ that are going around.” Proceeding on this premise, Mr. Smith and a group of earnest men— and two women—have taken a firm hold of this new educational problem in Washington. outlined an efficient system of teaching and propose to turn out scores of printers, plumbers, carpenters, tinsmiths, draftsmen and painters into the shops of the city, who will enter their trades with far greater knowledge than :the young- ster who takes up any of these voca- tions simply for something to do. For the lad who enters the Abbott School does not have to take any single one of the courses offered until he has satisfied himself he will like it and that it will suit him in his more mature years. When he enters he spends the entire first semester, if he wants to, going from class to class—six weeks at a time in each class—until he finds the sphere in which he believes he is best fitted. Frequently he doesn’t need all this period of casting about, but gravi- tates into his proper groove after one or two class attempts. But few of the youngsters have taken full advan- tage of this opportunity of learning a smattering of all trades before settling down to an intensive study of one. It's a different scheme of operation— this business of selecting courses by 1rying them owt—and aa lnnovatien in MORNI EBRUARY 7, 1926. FICTION AND HUMOR Printing at the Abbott v s - ~ s Imstruelions in Painting school procedure, for in the academic courses the youngster chooses his course without -knowing whether he will like it or not. Usually he chooses it because it is easy, or because the teacher he will get has & reputation for leniency. Not so at the’ Abbott, for here the ehirker is judged solely on his work, his speed and the quality of the prod- uct he turns out with his hand and brain. He cannot hide behind some classmate, for his work is and must bo hia own, under the method devised by Mr. Smith and his earnest group of associates. On their shoulders rests & great responsibility, for on the hu- man product they turn out will be judged the true worth of the school in Washington's educational system. Already, owever, the vocational school idea is spreading, for southwest ‘Washington wants a vocational school in that section and appears to have a good chance to get it. With each youngster as he moves from classroom to classroom— stadent haa feux 4bminute periods of vocational training a day, and 2 hours of classroom work which is so designed as to bear directly on the vocational subject he is being taught—goes to what is called the cortrol board, which tells him and the teacher exactly what he is doing in his various classes. So in this way a daily, almost an hourly, check is kept on the work of the b When he completes a unit of wor | Each unit of work Is an examination {in fuself, for the youngster puts into |the finished product the accumulated { knowledge he has obtatned in laying | the groundwork for it. And In ad | dition, when a_shop job is finished | whether it be steamiitiing or printing {he must fill out & question sheet cor. cerning the steps of the job. This i | considered an cxamination. | Mechanieal drawing at the Abbott lis not a course, but is a part of the curriculum for every student. Hand | 1n hand with #hop work and academic | studies must go, durlng the first se- mester, study in mechanical drawing |to give him the draftsman’s view of the ‘mantul job he will later under- ake Boys may enter they have passed th of 14 year: | and have gone through the scventl grade of grade school. It is signif cant that many upplicants for e trance to the ulready overcrowded classes come from the high schools, some of them boys as old as 19 vears, | who want to learn u trade or get a foundation for & vocation In their pare time. Proviston has been made by the school tes for keepina pen in the evening for the cxpanding night classes. T |t ‘tinie there are several boys a Who work at night to car: r share toward the family suppor: ithough the faculty of this new | 5chool belleves Washington is fearl { 801 on the vocational school, it hopes Ito seo & great Increase in the size of lusses next year, when the school b 'omes more widely advertised. Everr ever, Mr. Smith holds tha WOrth of the institution wim ognized. Probably not unti , when its graduates ¢ ‘the well grounded b trade knowledge mployers of the cit =8t they should employers an even though con small group, is ce. Mr. Smif e says will Uve up the school afte: {hope the employer their pledges to place our graduates.’ They have also pledged themselves to give credit or preferred posts to the | graduates of the vocational school. | = | MR- SMITH be |1\1 H bell | of the voca }able to com | trade apn: ves the graduates 1 school will be iand higher wages = tices than those who g ade shops without previou kind. On that ba ¥ who take the t bbott are r 00l on the “de plan, for their know! ad the advantage of similar training both in joh preferment and in salar. “To the boy who does not expect enter a profession. this school effers | & new opy 1t gives him traln de and later, when echool and con his chosen occupation, his an apprentice Dbetter paid than cdes without prep is 2 boy who graduates hool practically sure of em ut from 2 financtal point of view boys may be <aid to be earnfng tn deferrad pay good salaries while at s on to recei ing an e from t ploymen d fnelude nt readins and safety nical sul ics, general geography ory ind related information. plete shops, minfatures of trade _establishments to ¥ their occupants wil ent equipment at the Abhott. Viewing the imposing list of trade work offered in oth citles, Mr mith foresces the day when avery trade, from pfano tuning to pin mak ing, will be taught in tha schools. But just now ho is concentrating on the two new courses—plumbing and wood working—und looking ahead to Eep tember, when courses in automobile re pair work ahd electrical work are t be Instuiled. These, he belleves, will be even more popular than printing and metal working. the backbone of the gchool at presen: Presided over by a thorough Scot who learned his trade at hand eetting in Caledonia, before the linotype be came the intricate, almost human, m chine it now is, the printing shop is a_complete duplicate of a small joh shop. In it the lads who would be printers learn their picas and ems their spacing and leading: and all the multitudinous details that lie behind the type-man’s product. They learn it completely and thoroughly, for Dun can McLaren. their teacher, besides | the work he did in Scotland. worked {in New York, and for several vears | was a compositor on two of the Wash | Ington newspapers before entering the teaching end of the printer's trade. | T oa ¥ ¥ | QN _the ground floor, opposite th i print shop, from a big room flooded with sunlight, comes the sound lof hammers ringing on metal; the cheery sound of the tinsmith at work { fashioning the material discovered by | ancient Britons into cornices and intri- cate patterns of today. A forge, cut ! ting machinery, all types of shaping devices, a multitude of hammers, plan {ing tables and all the equipment {meeded v put a bov in @ real profes { slonal atmosphere give him vent for { his ambition to shape materlals of | metal to his own end. C. R. Gates is | major domo in the sheet metal shop- | insructor in a trade whose employes j receive high wages and have pleasan | hours, | _On the same floor will open nex | week the plumbing shop, also witt | complete equipment for the trade pop |ularly filled with the traditiona | plumber’s helper. the apprentice las jwho hands monkey wrenches to his |chief ‘at $2 an Lour. The loafers | won't get far in their younger years at the Abbott, however, for Louis Conradis, the plumbing ‘teacher, in tends to do a thorough job of inst ing into his charges the value of dili- gence and the theory that a dollar of pay is worth a dollar of work. Upstaits, in a room decorated with shades no futurist may hope to achteve, is the home of the embryo painters, taught their art by T. H. Shaw. Here they sindy ~olor combina. tions, the proper way w set up = painter’s scaffold, the right vay to ap- ply paint and all the tricks of ta»paint ing and decorating art. In a “oom opposite, beyond a classroom, is the high-stooled home of the mechaniad drawing class, to which each student at the Abbott must go during the firs§ semester to lay for himself a grounds work on which he may build his future trade with the viewpoint of the drafts man. ‘The woodworking class will not have its workshop at the Abbott School. Puplls in woodworking wili go to another school, a few steps die tant, there to spend the usual four —in the case | 40-minute periods and then come back of printing, a little booklet or pam-|to the Abbott for the classroom work phlet; in the case of tinsmithing, 2| Taaial 30b—bo s &iven cradic for that goes hand In hand with the train. ing of & carpenten, ¥