Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

Special Schools Established by Manufacturers

Special Schools Established by Manufacturers.

The schools established by Sir W. Armstrong at Elswick, by the London and North-western Railway Company at Crewe, and those of Messrs. Mather and Platt of Sal-ford, in connection with their engineering works, testily to the importance attached by employers to the theoretical training of young mechanics. The efforts of Messrs. Denny, the eminent shipbuilders of Dumbarton, for encouraging the instruction of their apprentices and for rewarding their workmen for meritorious improvements in details applicable to their work, are proofs of this appreciation. The evidence of Mr. Richardson, of Oldham, and of Mr. Mather, of Salford, is emphatic as to their experience of its economical value.

Without more particularly referring to the valuable work in the past accomplished by the numerous mechanics' institutes spread over the country, many of them of long standing, we may point out that they are now largely remodelling their constitutions in order to bring up their teaching to the level of modern requirements as regards technical instruction. The example of the Manchester Mechanics' Institute may be studied in this connection.

Moreover, as evidencing the desire of the artisans themselves to obtain facilities for instruction both in science and art, we must not omit to mention the classes established and maintained by some of the leading cooperative societies. The Equitable Pioneers' Society of Rochdale has led the way in this, as in so many other social movements. It is much to be wished that the various trades' unions would also consider whether it is not incumbent on them to promote the technical education of their members.

The manufacturers of Nottingham speak with no uncertain voice of the important influence of the local school of art on the lace manufacture of that town. Without the Lambeth school, the art productions of Messrs. Doulton could scarcely have come into existence. The linen manufacturers of Belfast are becoming alive to the necessity of technical instruction if competition on equal terms with foreign nations in the more artistic productions is to be rendered possible. The new generation of engineers and manufacturers of Glasgow has been trained in the technical schools of that city. The City and Guilds of London Institute owes its existence to the conviction of the liverymen that technical instruction is a necessary condition of the welfare of our great industries.