Maple Avenue Evening High School - Progress Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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MAPLE AVENUE HIGH SCHOOL 540 MAPLE AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CALIF. K Telephone 823111 Sadie C. Atherton, Principal-Co-ordinator. A Vocational High School For Men' in the Trades. Specializing in Trade Extension Work. ra e Extension Training The Why and l'low Of It By SADIE C. ATHERTON HE unsatisfactory condition prevailing in the shops and building trades as regards the labor situation is the result of the unscientific manner in which the matter has been handled for years back. The employer has not, until recently, made any effort to build up a system to adequately replace the Qld apprenticeship system long since vanished. Perhaps the California employer has been even more lax in this respect than others. With the exception of a few midsummer months there formerly was a steady influx of mechanics from other climes and the employer could, as a rule, pick up j ourneymen for a Wage but slightly in excess of that of a helper and so worried not at all about the labor sup- ply or scientific organization and classification of apprentice or mechanic. The War made a change and the restriction of immigration has had its effect, but the outstanding reason for the chaos which exists in industry, particularly in the building industry, maybe 'traced to the lack of a work- able system for the training of the necessary young men to take the place of those who have been called away or who drop out for one reason or an- other. - i Wage increases and demoralization of labor forces came with the war. Men without special training or experience forced themselves- into certain -Page Fifteen

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Palm Canyon

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trades because of the higher wages and without any real love of the par- ticular trade or intention of making it their life work. From this cause and because of the tendency to specialization in the larger shops, one finds little of the old time pride that the genuine me- chanics formerly had in their trade. To get by for the time being seems to be about the highest ambition of a large percentage of the workers and many of them have no compunction about jumping from one trade to an- other if better wages offer. What is needed is quality. Skill and pride in workmanship and re- sponsibility on the part of the mechanic must be revived and encouraged. In this way will loss of time and waste of material be eliminated. The skilled mechanic is always a more responsible man. He knows what pains and labor it costs to produce fine work. He has learned to appraise values and to take into account the employer's investment, his responsibilities and risks. Therefore the thoroughly trained mechanic is at all times the most valuable, economical and satisfactory man on the payroll. He can do his work without direction and does not spoil or waste or occasion delay. Now, the question is, what shall be done and what is being attempted towards remedying the unsatisfactory conditions as set forth in the open- ing paragraphs of this article? The Remedy 1 Some means should be provided for the encouragement and advance- ment of the young men in their chosen calling and such care should be exercised in their selection, classification and promotion as will engender a proper valuation of the trade and an ambition and pride in it. Such a system of classification and operation should meet the wants of the several industries under all conditions without lowering any stand- ards of living or of work. Many plans along the lines of education and trade instruction have been evolved by various departments of industry whereby conditions may be bettered and a regular system set up. Large corporations have estab- lished schools within their own plants through which they endeavor to solve their local difficulties. Vestibule classes are being used by some firms where a particular process or machine is taught, short units in trade extension are given in evening classes in the public schools etc. These and many others but partially solve the problem and all seem to have certain drawbacks. In the oldtime regular trade school plan there is the 'necessity of devoting three to four years' time with considerable expense T Page l1Sixteen