New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 10, 1916, Page 10

NEW, BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1916. VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, CONFERENCES HERE (Continued From First Page.) guidance proceeds upon the assump- tion that we should do nothing fur- ther than to present facts, point out | possibilities and give opportunity of experience in type forms of industry in order to supply as much industrial dntelligence as is possimle, leaving the final choice to the individual who must choose in view of all the cireun- stances of the case both those nver which he had no command as wall us those which he is able to rontrol. | “It is the last type of vocational | guidance which we believe to be safest and surest as a working basis, and it is this type which we are endeavoring 10 employ in connection with the v/orl of the Prevocational Grammar school | Work of our own school system. Tt is of this prevocational school work as an ald to vocational guidance that 1 am | expected to say a few words. Opinions of Experts. “In a report made December, 19 to the school board of the city Richmond, Va., with reference to development of schools for industrial education, and following a comrlete industrial survey of the c Dodd, secretary of the Natio clety For the Promotion of Indus Education and W. T. Bowden, spocl. st in industrial education for the United States bureau of educa‘ion, presented the following statements ““The necessity for vocational di- rection and guidance for children who are likely to early face the complexities of our modern industrial and com- mercial life, obviously points to thae need of securing for these children the kind of experience which will give B them some basis upon which an intel- Jigent choice of a life career may he made. ““If a course of training is to be formulated which will help bovs to find themselves and enable them to make an intelligent choice of their work in the future it must be a varied one. What is needed is an organized training in the practical arts which will Include experiences from muny fields of employment. Such a plan should consist of a series of johs, pro- Jects or enterprises, which in their ac- , of | e | education <omplishment will give to the boy an appreciative understanding of funda- mental processes in the more import- ant industries.’ “The foregoing statement covers in | all essentials the conception of prevo- | cational education and its possibilities as an aid to vocational guidance which | has governed our procedures in the | development of prevocational work in | the schools of New Britain. “We believe however, that all pub- Jic school education should be reard- €d as essentially prevocational in character, whether it be academic, in- | dustrial or commercial. Eduication at public expense cannot be justified up- on any other basis. There is no ex- cuse in a democracy for a type of edu- cation that contemplates a mnon-pro- ductive life here are least threo well de- d types of mind to be found ng the pupils in our Gram: school, i. e., Tth and 8th grades. may be roughly termed the the commercial type, the at aca- type. We find there are at least three well defined groups of pupils when we consider the life purposes the arbi- tion, the circumstances and the future probabilities these children, those who are to into mechanical em- ployments, those who are to go into commercial life and those who are to take up the professional or semi-pro- fessional occupations. “We recognize also the that @very boy is to be regarded as the po- tential head of a family, and that every girl should be recogrized a potential home maker. “We know that the psychic develop- ment of children which so strongiy differentiates youth from children be- gins to manifest itself to a marked de- gree at about twelve and fourteen years of age. This is the grammar school age. This early adolescent pe- riod is characterized by great restle ness and in many pupils by the awak. Ening of thoughts, dreams and aspir tions that concern the future life plans of the Individual. This is par- ‘ticularly true of the pupil who knows {that family circumstances makes it mecessary for him to leave school at the end of his grammar school course wor before the completion of a full High school course. “In view of this fact we believe tlat #his is the proper time to set the in- Hividual to thinking about the prob- 'em of choosing a life work as a prob- fem to be seriously faced and pre parea for.” Commissioner Carris. Following Mr. Holmes in the dis- eussion of the Prevocational school pe an aid to vocational guidance, Lewis H. Carris, assistant commis- sfoner of education at Trenton, N. J., gave a half hour's talk Wwhich met with the close attention of his audi- Fact act ence. He first spoke of the influence of vocational education on life work ard quoted expert opinion on prevo- cational education. One authority bas assumed that it is aimed for the benefit of misfits. This sumption is wrong, in Mr. Carris. He declared the time is past when such a conception can be maintained and we must realize that 1s a part of general education and not something apart, designed for the sole benefit of les bright pupi We are apt to lose sight of the real reason for introducing the work, which is that our future prosperit: depends upon proper training for in- dustry The time will come and it is not far gdistant, in the belief of the speaker, when it will be the function of the public school to determine for each pupil when general education as- shall cease and be superceded by vo- | cutional training. When it becomes apparent that a school has done all | it can for a pupil then the time will khave arrived when it must aid in haping the future course of the child. Society has already perceived that needs more than general and today has gone out into the commercial and industrial ectivities and brought them into the school, that society may be better served by training its youth to serve in definite fields. The Prevocational school has undertaken this problem right here in New Britain. It is now generally assumed that people are born with varying ability, said Mr. Carris, and as we have chance to measure each child’s ability it to do a definite thing, genera] educa- | tion will not suffer if we can get him to specialize in his wor He favored the introduction in the school of many types of activity. but main- tained that the instructors must be specially adapted to their work and made a plea for a prevocational school with many lines of activity for the purpose of mental develop- ment and general intelligence. That in this manner the prevocational school becomes a part of the scheme of general education was his conten- tion. This Afternoon. The morning conference terminated with the discussion of the Vocational High school its relation to the trade ‘school, and this afternoon ciosed with another conference at the Grammar school auditorium. The subjects for discussion wer in | “The Department Store as a Training led by Mrs. Lucinda W. of Simmons college, Boston, ecucational director of the National Retail Dry Goods association; and “The Abolition of Child Labor With- out Vocational Training in the Schools.” E. N. Clapper of the Na- tional Child Labor committee of New York city was the speaker. A, J. birdseye of the Mutual Benefit In- surance company of Hartford was chairman of the closing conference. At last evening’'s session of the Con- sumers’ League convention in the auditorium of the Central Grammar school there was a conference on Vocational Training as related to the continuation school. The gather- ing was held under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Education and the Consumers’ League and the speakers were Principal John G. Thompson of the fitchburg, Mass, State Normal school, Superinténdent B. W. Tinker of the Waterbury public schools and Pro- fessor W. B_ Anthony of Fitchburs, Mass. President E. W. Christ of the Chamber of Commerce presided and following brief remarks, intro- duced Mayor G. A, Quigley, who in turn welcomed the league to the city Mayor Quigley admitted that he was not well posted on the aim and object of the Consumers’ Lez gue: but when he learned that it was intended for the betterment of wage earning women and children, he was at once interested. His Honor then paid a compliment to the schools of the city and stated that no city in the country the size of New Britain is spending more money on schools. Last year in connection with the schools a total of $319,000 was spent and this year the figures w reach $350,000. New Britain is j proud of its school 3 Re- ferring again to the league, Mayor Quigley offered to co-operate in any way possible to aid in the attain- ment of its objects. Principal Thompson, In introducing Principal John G. Thompson of Fitchburg, Chairman Christ touched upon the matter of vocational schools and showed that New Britain is a pioneer in the field. ‘When the city of Cleveland first took up the question in the belief that it was undertaking something new, it was forced to learn that the Hardware City had shown the way. Principal Thompson agreed with Mr. Christ that New Britain is showing the way in something that is vague and wonderful to the whole country, We are only just feeling our way into this mat- ter of vocational training which so full of great possibilities said the speaker. He hoped to see the time when every boy and girl over twelve will have an opportunity to do some remunerative work in connection with his educational work. To be able to chool,” Frince, GUNN RUBBER (0. 57 East Main Street We will have an exhibit at Booth 53 at the Auto Show in Hartford. See our Mohawk Tire before buying. wholly | the belief of | is a wonderful in- boys’ or girls. In system permits all a chance to earn $3 a week and it worked Wwell. There is more real education in earning than in educa- tion itself declared Mr. Thompson. The Continuation School furnishes this opportunity, This school as it works out provides working boys and girls with an opportunity to attend school under much the same condi- tions as their work demands. They must be punctual and the hours are | credited to their pay the same as | when at actual work. | Every teacher and educator knows | earn something spiration for Fitchburg their that education and life are the same said Mr. Thompson, although this be- | lief 1s opposed to old time theory, | which believed that education ceased at graduation and then the boy or girl went out into life. It is the moc- ern contention that education and life run together and begin with birth and never separate. His theory of edu .a- | tion is something to use at once aad | the best preparation for living tomor- | row is to live today. Another cld time | theory that has been upset relates to | wor! Work was considered degrnd- ing and parents educated their chil- | dren with the idea that they would | then pbe fortified against the necessity | of labor. The theory of the continua- | tion school is the application of work to | education. One thing it is aimed to do | is to turn the boy aside from the blind | alley job, the job which leads only to a brick wall. To illustrate this point the speaker termed an elevator job 2 blind alley job. It takes only a week at the utmost to learn to operate an ele- ator. While this job has its physical ups and downs from a mental stand- point it is a dead level job and pro- | vides no stepping stones to higher po- sitions. Tt is the aim of the continua- tion school to turn the boy aside from such vocations and to turn his thoughts and efforts to something that leads ahead. Waterbury’s Experiment. Superintendent B. W. Tinker of Waterbury told of Waterbury's con- tinuation school, which is patterned after no accepted standard. Water- bury’s school was created out of a condition which confronted Brass City manufacturers, said Mr. Tin¥er. Some few years back they discovered that skilled mechanics were scarce. Bel- gium, France, Germany and England were no longer furnishing them in quantity to this country, but they were needed. Some of the manufacturers put the matter up to the board of education and it was agreed to start a school that would furnish youns an- prentices with the necessary teckn cal knowledge. Seven concerns were at first included in the movement and something over 100 students were en- rolled. The school was operated 01 a strict eight hour schedule from S to 12 o'clock and from 1 to 5 o'clock, but no sessions were held Wednesday or Saturday afternoons, this time being given to conference between the teachers and the boys on the job to much real help was b £ he school has proved most practical possible to establish and today all of the twenty-two large in Waterbury are directly in- in its succes: ach appren- tice attends the continuation school four hours a week, a half day ses- sion and is paid for the time the same as at the shop. There is no regu'av course, the problems actually faced in the shop being the ones worked out in the school, and it is a fact these boys are doing applied ‘mathematical work that cannot be done by teachers in the High school. Outside of tle technical study one hour is devoted to cultural topics, such as the study of the history so local history pertain- ing to the manufacturing concerns and public institutions of Waterbury. A diploma and certificate are given to the apprentices on the completion of his four vears course, to which the sig= natures of all the foremen in the shoy under whom he has worked s at- tached. i B. Anthony of Fitchburg sented to give an informal talk on b recent trip to Milwaukee where he in- pected a large vocational school and aw boys making bread and dough- nu These boys were training to “e bakers, and from them he learned that most of them were rescued from the so-called *'blind alley” jobs. While the speaker admitted the east is show- ing the way in this 1 educational advance he cautioned his audience that it would not be lons pefore the wost would forge to the lead and we would be compelled to seek ideas there. Aims of the League. Following the business the Consumers’ league at the audi- torium of the High school yesterday afternoon, tev. Dr. Rockwell Harmon Potter of Hartford, president of the organization, gave an address on the aims and accomplishments of the league in its fourteen years of life in this state. Dr. Potter is chairman of the league's committee on public pol- icy and in his remarks he harked re- peatedly to its prime aim, which is to ameliorate the condition of wage e ‘rn ing women and children. This was its policy at the foundation in 1902 and it has steadily and unfaltering worked to this end. TIn connection with this work they devised a label and urged its use by concerns broad minded enough to co-operate with the league in improving the conditions of their workers. A white list of stores and shops that lived up to the condi- tions was also prepared and the public urged to trade with them. The sec- ond object of the league was to pro- mote the “shop early” campaign, to aid in relieving the burdens of sal people during the heavy pre-Christ- mas weeks of trading. That the league has been successful in this lat- ter work is unquestioned, said speaker. Its effect is more marke with each passing year. The publi has responded to the appeal and this fact is freely attested by leading mer- terested con- session of chants throughout the state. To educate the public to buy the labeled goods and patronize stores on the white list was a more difficult and complex problem, but it worked out finally in the growing sentiment of the public to demand goods sold in sani- tary shops under conditions fair to the employe with the further result that the demand for needed legislation was also backed by the public. Tn 1909 the fifty-five hour law for women and 4 \ ed and the league had much influence in securing the passage of this legislation. The league, said Dr. Potter, has undertaken many investigations and has worked hard to secure desired legislation and to have the labor laws enforced. At the last session of the legislature it made a valient effort to secure a 10 o’clock closing hour for women and children, but was defeated in this effort owing Lo the opposition of some .* the large factories employing women on night schedules. Dr. Potter criticised a recent edi- torial in the Hartford Times on the child labor problem, the editorial writer assuming that the passage of too much restrictive legislation would result in child idleness. He wanted to emphasize the fact that the league is not opposed to child work that will not prove injurious to the child phys cally, morally or mentally. The league has co-operated in the establishment of trade schools and he took pride in stating that the league had a part in securing the present form of employment certificate, which is regarded as being a model of its kind and the finest in the country. In regard to suffrage, the league is impartial, but on the age old struggle between employer and employe it is sometimes for and sometimes against, depending whether the question re- lated to the policy of the league to better the condition of wage earning women and children. In conclusion he said the league still seeks public co-operation in its efforts as there is still much need of aid in the work to be accomplished. Business Session. At the busines on which ceded Dr. Potter's address the cording secretary, Mrs. Samuel Williams of Glastonbury read the re- port of the last annual meeting in Norwich, January 29, 1915. Mrs. Louise Smith, assistant treasurer, moved that the treasurer's report be omitted as it had been printed in pamphlet form and mailed the members. The motion was adopt- ed. Miss Mary C. Welles of Newing- ton, the league's executive secretary, gave a brief oral report of the worls for the year. The chief effort was devoted to the securing of desired legislature, there being three labor bills and two edu- cational bills in which the league was interested. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, all were de- feated, but they felt encouraged that an effort had been made in the right direction An amendment to the law governing trade schools was secured, giving back to the state board of edu- cation the power to organize trade schools for girls and an appropria- tion of $3,000 was secured to carry on investigation work in relation to conditions in restaurants and tenc- ment houses. In December the league undertook in connection with the shop early campaign to secure the enforcement of the law providing seats for store employes, but without succe: An appeal was made 1o the factory inspector, but he main- tained that his force was too busy to give time to the project. Miss Welles read a list of contribu- tors to the league funds, which - cluded the names of Mre, W. I Churchill, Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Lar ders, Mrs. Philip Stanley and Rose Churchill and Mrs Talcott. Miss Welles read the report committee on publication, giving account of the work done by this department during the year and tell ing of- the circulation of pamphlets and other literature. A report was also made on the work of the com mittee on public policy. It had recommendations to submit, one that the league give support to the Keat ing-Owen child labor hill, said be the most far rveaching child labor leglslntion ever attempted in thix country, and authorizing the executive secvetary on behalf of the league to co-operate with the Lite Bxtension lustitite York Roth recommendations were adopted Ex-Prestdent Tait Tr. ving Itisher interested v the life exteisioi whict is desfgned to longevity In addition electing reported in old hourd of with the addition The new directors Henry Wairehild and W. Denison, hoth of hildren was ps pre- G . to George i of the an 1wo to the second of New aud Professor are hoth Hovenent prowmote to yesterday's officers Herald re-elected as directars Gf (WO Hew ones are: Professor Hev. Robert New Haven servant Problem, aflernoon gather 1on of the topic of domestie itoelofs, of the a A feut ing w of the v the ser. BeCre- household national hoard of to h lad owing il appear and in unpopularity vice, Miss Menrietla tary of the con employment of the the Y. W. C. A in this discussion ness wan unable her stead Mrs. Elihn Root. Jdr, op New York gave i twenty minutes tali which proved of an interesting chap acter. A general discussion followed in which Mrs. Lucy B . Wilson Wethersfield lod. She advocated form definite contract, wherehy both it and mistress would bound and each would know limitations of labor and hours a thus avold misunderstandings which have much to with the so-called servant problem ission on wan hut to Ve to o some of he tho do MANY K REDUCTIONS The hoard of relief held sessions vesterday afternoon and last evening and heard requests for reductions of ssments from the following pro- perty owners: Mrs. Annie M. Shaw, §1 and 83 Fairview street and 75 and 77 Fairview strect, assessed for 000 and a reduction of $400 Gustave Samlow, Arch street, ed for $18,000, reduction of $4,000 asked; Mrs. H. T,. Norton, 382 West Main street, assessed for $8,000, ve- duction asked for on account of blindness; Katherine Kiesewetter, 8% and 86 Vine street. represented by William Kiesewetter, assessed for $7,- 500, $700 reduction asked; Edward Ginsberg, 355 Arch street, assessed for $28,000, a reduction of $1,700 asked; Horace Booth estate, ass ed for $20.000, a rveduction of asked; Joseph Voltz, 61 Madison street, assessed for $3,000, a reduc- tion of $400 asked. l A a artntio! CONCERT ATTENTION! —By The— APOLLO QUARTET Boston’s Most Famous Male Quartet in Auditorium of TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH, New Britain, Conn. Under Auspices of Methodist Brotherhood TOMORROW, FRIDAY EVENING, FEB. 11, at 8 o’clock Admission 50c—Children 25c—Tickets on Sale at Door. Everybody Welcome. PRSI R 1. 5 XM Events Tonight “Bou New New Lexi in Jr. at Cour Jour at 34 meets Ann n, S New TO St. St. of the ‘the ci inakin its fift come boasts e n.emb Davil Mr. a Mr. prised annive sist th A pi Benoit Rose 1 from Springf Mr. ter in rary pany. Elodin. Seve! conside the Ta in the I Mare a in have ment practica being w or RBills commit Clty ¥ yolice, public $902.01 §103.90 subway WO The an's cluy ing at Mr: deliver FOT Memt Level ner at a num dinner ; forman bedside are to t proved theater, Vaudeville and Keeney High theater. in Eagles’ in Turner Landers camp, M. W, 34 Church street. Emmett Main street. Sir Francis Drake lodge, G., meets in Turner hall. 321 1-2 Washington Camp, Jean Plans ociety has club Too celebra Whiting number Benoit is a well known carpen- CHANC school which is to be re-opened early One of the former teachers hs in the school tenance, $181.81; 71.84 and w street. Mrs on Troubet Miss Rose C‘hurchill one on M The meeting Foremen's club as guests Reports thi comfortable 1ght and Paid For,” Lyceum moving pictures, theater. | ANNOUNCEMENT After many years experience in the Men’s Cloth- ing and rurnishing Geods business, I wish to announce that [ have purchased the good will of the E. G. Bab- cock Co., anu will continue said business under the name of The Ashley, Babcock Co. i Have maue arrangements with the leading manu- facturers, and will have ready at our opening for your inspection the choicest line of Clothing, Hats, and Men’s Furnishing goods ever offered for your ap:- proval. ) watch for the opening announcement. closs photo plays, Fox’s Britain Aerie, F. 0. E., hall, meet Britain Turner society meets | hall. | ngton lodge, I. O meets | O. U. A, M. hall. i | | of meets | § club meets at S. of St. F. 2 Main street. t Friendly of A, meets at Signed, GEORGE B. ASHLEY, JR. Barbers meets street. neymen union Church P of A, hall of 0. S in G. A. R. ual meeting outh church. Assyrian Mis- Britain Teachers’ ‘club enter-| tainment at Grammar school. THE EDISON STORE | SN A MUSIC RE-CREATION in OBSERV ANNIVERSARY. De Baptiste Society Making for Next October. Jean de Bastiste society, one leading French organizations of ty, has already commenced g plans for the observance of anniversary, which will in October. The growth of the has been steady today of a membersh eenth e Dery lover of real come at once and hear the If you are a music your favorite son on New Edison Diamond Disc. We have tion a full line of machines and Records. ers ne and address and we will send you one of Beloin, Send us vour n Al k& New E Sooklets i hear some of Christine Miller, the Great American Re-Crea- re cords, Edison's SILVER ANNIVE on beautiful played nd Mrs. Benoit Surprisod Home on Whiting Strect and Mrs. H, Benoi street were pleasant evening, the 1t of their marr of friends who o em in celebrating the ¢ ano solo was given by and a violin selection by .afond. Guests were present Hartford, Manchester and | ield. at Mack in prices from $60.00, $80.00, $100.00, $150.00 1o $250.00. PLAYS ALL MAKES OF RECORDS—NO NEE! TERMS TO SUIT L. A. GLADDING T T AROUND THE CORNER ranging la DI TO CHANGE rsary the employ of the Landers, 1 CHESTNU & Clark Manufacturing com- The happy have three children, Armand and Ralph. AT, IN MA GEMEN changes are under by the management of Torah sociation both Elm street and the KIDDIE WEAxS HER NEW COAT WHEN SHE GOES A-WALKING al new ration Imud yuilding on City Items The John Kunz company has ap- plied for a permit to remodel the store formerly occupied By the Cohen Millinery company on Main street It will be brought down to street | level. “h or Avril. commission It is planned to form of govern Ny agreed but ithheld to resume work the final details arc until completed. filed a owned the Stronkowsky has mechanic’s lien property by Barney Miller Glen street, m being §$48. Joseph on TY BILL were tee all, $130 amusement ; streets APPROVED, d by the on approy last night as $549.09; fir inciden $3.30; .90 sewer sprinkling, street finance follows $588.9 $452.09 health, sewer main- struction, $30.3 lighting, Improvement, meeting of the Ladies- Matthew's German Lu- held this after- Mr:. Wardner of The monthly society of St. theran church, w: noon at the home Hawkins street. cor notice with intended to at 344 N February Broad street weeks’ the city sell in filed that he busine Harris on of 14 a six B. Miller clerk today his clothing street to Sam Miss A has hecover with grip. : street .34 street Beruhe MAN'S CLUB from siege art department 1ib will meet 10:30 o'clock M of the tomorrow at the I"rooks at 18 Brooks will read a paper — ky. Miss Elise Russell will Clothing a paper on Leon I'“:(‘"n‘l'}“"], Meeting Tonight. members, NG. Wom- morn- home or Store to Hold thly Employes Mo is open to all The “Get-Together” club the will hold their monthly meeting 5 composed R I of the clerks at Besse-Leland hers of S CLUB DINNER. the Stanley, Rule enjoved a Beloin last eveni the officials attending the club. Kollowing the party attended the per the Lyceum fternoon of 8. P. Storrs the he effect that he passed a ver night, and there is im- change in his condition. and | stor din- | {his evening in connection with a Walsh's [ewiTE coRRECT] the ber Hotel of of the ce at at taurs of dinner ros nt. Harry Coutant is ch the commit- tee in charge of the air and he { being sted by Earl Gibney and I'red Scheidler. The speaker this evening will be Martin K. Pasco, who will talk on “Dyes.” The president of this association Mark lLake and the membership num- bers twenty-seven. rman is This five-year-old | spring coat of tan se | voke, the interspace filled with smocking. ! trim the front and carefully made littic atin bonnet | ot rosebuds. wears a modish ge, cul with # of which are Novelty buttons With this white cath from the druggist, cuffs, is coat g trimmed with