Michael Dawes

"Wanted. Good, bright, intelligent American boys between sixteen and eighteen years old to learn the machinists trade; must have had a grammar school education or its equivalent. Apply to, etc. "

Mr. Editor: - This is the way I would advertise were I in need of boys to learn the machinist's trade. Perhaps I can give you a better idea of what I wish to say by stating some of the difficulties frequently experienced by manufacturing establishments in their efforts to obtain the right kind of boys, and if these few cold facts are brought to the attention of the fathers through such a medium as I find Amateur Work to be, it may be of advantage to some boy who hopes to better his condition. In parenthesis let me say that if the fathers only knew what wholesome, fascinating and interesting subjects, for both boys and men of a mechanical turn of mind, could be found within its covers, they would invest a dollar with you for a year's subscription. The result would be to encourage them to do something for themselves. I could continue writing commendatory things about your magazine, but the more I mightwrite the further away I would be from what I started out to do, and that is to state how hard it is to get the right kinds of boys for trades; boys that will eventually develop into good men, masters of their chosen trade and capable of taking the positions of foremen, etc.

The man in charge of the apprentices is notified that an applicant is waiting. He finds a mother or a father with the son, and soon getting right down to business the questioning begins. The terms and conditions under which boys are taken having first been stated, " Why do you want to become a machinist ?" " Have you ever worked anywhere?" "At what?" A glance at the boy's hands discloses that the fingers and thumbs are brown or yellow on the tips. "Do you smoke cigarettes?" An affirmative reply is given, the only answer that could honestly be made. This applicant is then told that, no matter how well qualified he was educationally, or how excellent his references might be, he would not be accepted, the interview ends, the disappointed parents leave, casting reproaches on the boy. "There, Johnnie! I wanted you to stop cigarette smoking, and that was the first thing the man inquired about. " Too often the case.

Perhaps the next boy who applies does not use tobacco or liquors, ne, also, is accompanied by a hopeful parent and has a school pin conspicuously displayed on his coat or vest. Yes, he graduated from the grammar schoool or went to the eighth grade. "Do you understand fractions, decimals and proportion?" " Yes, sir. " And yet the boy is rejected. Why ? Simply because, on examination, it is found that he cannot find the sum of a fraction and a decimal, nor can he convert a fraction into a decimal or vice versa.

Note that nothing is asked is as to his knowledge of grammar, geography or history; just a few simple questions in arithmetic. If the boy appears to be embarrassed he is given questions leading up to what is required, or he is left entirely by himself with paper, pencil and questions, and when he has had ample time in which to answer the questions he is again interrogated. Yet he"fails, and what is his excuse ? " I knew it at school. " I say, " No, he did not. " To illustrate: Ask that boy what is the sum of two and two; without hesitation he gives the correct answer. "Then you learned that at school?" "Yes, sir." Showing conclusively that what was learned was remembered. And this condition is found too frequently. Good, bright appearing boys apply and are rejected because they do not possess a thorough knowledge of common school arithmetic.

If the parents and the boy could only be impressed with the importance of this matter, the boy would not seek an opportunity to learn a trade without preparation, and I use the term generally now, as such knowledge is as necessary and applies as forcibly to the pattern maker's cr the moulder's trade as it does to the machinists. Boys of sixteen, seventeen and eighteen years of age, and yet unable to solve simple problems from a common school arithmetic! Do they think a manufacturer has time to teach them arithmetic? If so they are greatly mistaken. If we are going to turn out young men who, after completing their apprenticeship are able to do the better grades of work as well as being capable of directing the work of others, we must insist upon their having a reasonable amount of education to begin with. The manufacturer of today has but little use for a boy of easy morals; it is. the upright, manly, clean boy he is looking for. The positions now filled by the heads of different departments will eventually be filled by the capable and intelligent boys of today. The boy who frequents dance halls, billiard saloons, low theatres, or is addicted to the cigarette habit, need never expect to be chosen for any position of trust. We do not care to have him around.

He is not the boy wanted.