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

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which eliminates the young person forced to earn a living for himself or family, Cand he is vastly in the majorityl and who is desirous to become something more than a laborer, helper or special machine man. It is essen- tial, if the community is to avail itself of the best that is in its man power, that such an one have the opportunity to become an expert, all-round me- chanic and it is also essential that he have that opportunity while young and capable of assimilating knowledge. The vestibule school runs all to specialization which is only valuable to the particular employer and employe while in the present relationship and of little value to the latter should he secure employment elsewhere and in a different branch of his trade. This, like other types of employers' schools, is objectionable also because it savors of patronage and exploita- tion. ' The short unit evening school instruction is splendid but does not go far enough. The private trade school may be dismissed as being too ob- viously open to exploitation, graft and the teaching of false doctrines. The most successful of all the workable schemes and the most compre- hensive in its scope of training is the cooperative part time line of instruc- tion between the industry and the public school. Here the worker gets the practical work on the job and receives, under the supervision of the public school, instruction in related and supplemental work. The Maple Avenue High School was established six years ago to co- operate with various industries in just this type of work. Classes have been formed as the needs became apparent, the initial enrollment of eighty- five growing until more than ten thousand people from the skilled trades have been served. Owing to the extensive building operations in Los Angeles during these years the classes have been principally along building trades lines. In some instances process work has been given such as lead wiping, vulcaniz- ing, welding, sheet metal work, jewelry making, sewing, millinery etc. but by far the larger groups of students have wanted plan making and in- terpretation, the laying out of work, mathematics, theory and laws of me- chanics, related sciences, design, history of art and such academic studies as are needful for general education. Day Classes Inaugurated Actuated by the crying need for better trained workers in all branches of industries if the progress of this community is to be maintained and in response to widespread and insistent demands on the part of large groups of employers and workers, the Board of Education has decided to inaugu- Page Seventeen

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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

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rate a system of genuine trade extension work with day classes in connec- tion with the Maple Avenue School. Here the worker and apprentice who is getting practical experience on the job in the actual atmosphere of the trade may come for a certain num- .ber of hours each week and with full pay while so attending, attend classes in related and supplemental work under expert teachers with large prac- tical experience. In some cases it will probably be advisable to teach some units of actual process work in the school In such cases the industry will be expected to furnish the equipment while the public school system fur- nishes teachers, class rooms and such line of equipment and supplies as are customary. A It will be seen that we have here a very happy combination. The school gives to industry the benefit of its perfected system of scientific grading and classification and makes available to the worker all that is new and best in the arts and crafts, accumulated from the best practices and teaching everywhere. The school goes on the job and into the shop and ascertains the needs and provides that supplemental knowledge relat- ing to the trades that no employer is in a position to supply. Getting this supplemental and related instruction in conjunction with the practical experience on the job, the student acquires a certain measure of culture and confidence in himself and takes an interest and pride in his work. The knowledge that he knows, or has the means of learning, the latest and best methods and processes in use throughout the world and that he is gaining a scientific knowledge of the origin, composition, history and manufacture of the things pertaining to his trade such as materials, tools and etc., gives to him a wonderful assurance and pride which makes his work a part of him. Everyone knows that the reason the oldtime apprenticeship system be- came unpopular was because the learner was indentured or bound Cen- slaved they came to term itl to the employer and that was repugnant, especially to the American boy. ln the trade extension system we get the merits of the apprenticeship system without the objectionable features. The interest taken by the employer creates a bond between him and the employe and the fact that it is all being done through the public school system, eliminates any suspicion of patronage, selfish advantage to any one employer over another or exploitation of any kind. This is a wonderful opportunity for the young men and women in the various trades in Los Angeles and will undoubtedly be hailed as a great boon by the employers. Page Eighteen