tions, and history of the industry. It is easier for persons trained in pedagogy to acquire in a short time this knowledge than for shop employees to master the technic of teaching. FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF CLASSES Money for factory classes should be included in the public school budget. An educational campaign may be necessary to impress upon the citizens their responsibility to illiterates and nonEnglish-speaking adults. Experience has proved that night schools have not adequately met the emergency. The State Federation of Labor, through its committee on education, has taken a strong stand on education and through local unions has pledged to demand public support for these continuation classes. Section 23 of its report of 1918 reads: "Acquisition of a fair knowledge of the American language by continuous shop and school instruction, supervised by state educational authorities, to be required of all employed foreign-language aliens as a condition of continued employment." TIME FOR CLASSES Some employers, realizing that additional efficiency gained by the workers from class instruction is an asset in their business, gladly give the time for factory classes. Others give half, and the employees, half. In other plants, particularly where there is an eight-hour day, the time is entirely outside working hours. The period, forty-five minutes or thereabouts, is sometimes at the end of the day shift, sometimes in the early forenoon, or afternoon. The number of meetings a week varies in different places. Execllent results have been obtained from three a week. PLACE OF MEETING Rest rooms, restaurants, recreation halls, and similar rooms are used as classrooms. If preferred, schoolhouses or libraries in the vicinity may be used. Chairs, tables, blackboards and good lighting are necessary equipment. Notebooks, pencils and textbooks entail little expense and may be provided by employees or by the public schools. SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION In the foregoing pages, the teaching of English has been stressed and it is necessarily the chief subject of instruction. That, however, is the medium of teaching other things, after once a funda mental vocabulary has been gained, as safety in shop and street, hygiene in home and factory, history of industry, citizenship, etc. Needs of individual factories must be studied and instruction adapted to each industry and body of workers. Closest co-operation with the safety engineer of the plant is necessary, or in a small factory with foremen who train the workers. As it is admitted that ignorance of English is certainly a factor in accidents, resulting in loss of life or disability, our first duty is to instruct efficiently in safety directions. Later, general information of the industry can be given. Whatever, in short, is of immediate use to the groups of workers in each factory should guide in choice of subjects. Above all, it is desired that the work done in these classesnecessarily elementary and meager - will develop a "quickening of mental life" and that this instruction will be but the introduction to further study. No opportunity on the part of the teacher should be lost in using the groups to promote social life in plant and in community. A connection with the home can be formed and participation of the family in outside activities stimulated. Regular class work may be varied by stereopticons, Victrolas, pictures, dramatization, simple talks from people representing different interests of the pupils. CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE In some cities, certificates issued by the State are given to graduates of each grade of factory classes. Some such tangible evidence of instruction is to be commended. This teaching of adults must be made dignified and matter of fact. The idea that training is only for children is a hindrance to progress. These men and women should be made to feel that school attendance is natural and every means possible ought to be taken in the factory and the community to give dignity and approbation to the work. COOPERATION Through the war, we have learned that herculean tasks can be done if there is whole-hearted cooperation. In this great work set before us of making life fuller and better for our adult population whose childhood often, through no fault of their own, lacked opportunities for any formal mental training, cooperation is an essential. |