Milwaukee School of Engineering - EMF Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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 CO-OPERATIVE EARN-WHILE-YOU-LEARN SYSTEM. The co-operative earn-while-you-learn system of education has been de- veloped to a high degree of perfection at the School of Engineering of Mil- waukee. This system is now in operation at the school, practically all the courses being so arranged as to permit students to avail themselves of the privileges of part-time employment. While part-time employment is not compulsory, it is strongly recommended in the case of all students as a valuable feature of the educational facilities offered here, and greatly en- hances the value of the training. The primary purpose of this system is to give students immediately practical experience in the industrial world so that upon graduation they will not go forth from school as “green graduates”, but rather as men who have at least had some experience and are somewhat familiar with industrial and commercial practices as found in the foremost industries. It “cuts” what has been figuratively spoken of as the “raw” edge of the college grad- uate, and gives him an immediately practical value in the eyes and organ- ization of the man to whom he must necessarily go for his start in the industries. 'file courses are so arranged that a student can spend half of his time in industrial employment. The time so spent is either divided into half days, or alternate weeks. Under either arrangement, students are grouped in pairs—one going to school while the other works, and changing about at stipulated intervals. This permits their outside work to be carried on with- out interruption and to the satisfaction of the employer, and enables them to pursue their studies in school while not working. Unless students have had previous experience in electrical or drafting work, they cannot at once be placed in positions that offer them the same kind of employment they are studying for. Consequently, men are placed at first in positions for which their previous training and natural abilities best fit them. However, as they progress in their studies and are sufficiently far advanced to permit it. they arc transferred to electrical or drafting work. It is the aim of the employment department to advance boys to this stage with the utmost rapidity possible, in order that their experience may have a direct bearing on the work being taken up in school. The Employment Department is absolutely the intermediary between student and employer, and it has been the special mission of this department to see that the work the student does contributes directly and to the fullest extent possible to the technical education of the man, as well as to look out 1 P b Page Four Hundred Forty-nine

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Well, he went forth and entered all the races he could qualify for. And did all the stunts the law allowed. Got arrested seven times the first season. But was never fined. The police enjoyed the unique car so much they couldn’t bear to fine him. He took three prizes in races—there are lots of speedways around there. He raced in Arizona, New Mexico and California. He had one accident—in a road race. Threw one man over the fence and the car turned turtle. Nobody hurt. The Electrical Experimenter and various other magazines have written the car up and printed pictures of it. Speedway Gleim thinks of that car every day as he studies away out East here, and of his care-free career, and of his car waiting his long summer vacation, out there in cactus land. It goes as high .as seventy-eight miles an hour—fast as possible for a car so small. Gleim has traveled 102 miles an hour in a big racer. Page Four Hundred Forty-eight

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 ' ' m ' % % k for a just and fair rate of remuneration. It is the duty of the Employment Department to see that the student gives fair value in services to his employer and an accurate check is kept on students work which is taken into consid- eration in determining the progress being made in his technical work. The co-operative earn-while-you-learn system is distinct from the ap- prenticeship system, and the features of indenture have been studiously avoided. While the apprentice virtually pays for the privilege of learning a trade by accepting extremely low wages, under the co-operative system employees are paid a rate commensurate with the services they are per- forming. This is. of course, considerably higher than if the students were not simultaneously pursuing a course of study along the same line at which they are employed. The amount of money students get for part time employment varies, of course, with the individual. For the past year the average has been from $140 to $75 per month for half time. This, it must be remembered, includes a large number of unskilled laborers, and also quite a number of younger boys whose rate of compensation is governed by the state indus- trial laws. There are no able-bodied, full-grown men, however, who are earning less than $50 a month for half time employment under this system, and there are a great many men who are earning $75 a month and upwards. They have attained this rate by experience in some particular job, and advancement in their studies. These attainments, however, arc not out of the reach of the average student who comes to the School of Engineering of Milwaukee if he will be earnest and intensive in his work, and willing to make the necessary sacrifices for success. C. H. Ferguson, Manager Employment Dept. Page Four Hundred Fifty