May 31, 1894] 



NA TURE 



11: 



of either sex, without limit of age, who are students of any class in 

 it. Persons who wish to join a trade class are required to satisfy 

 certain conditions before permission is granted them. There is 

 a reason for (his stipulation. By attending a course in a trade 



; subject, it is possible for men to become dexterous enough to do 

 jobbing work without serving an apprenticeship in that trade. 

 This is not only detrimental to the interests of the skilled work- 



I man, but it also encourages inefficient labour, for though the 



' way to do a thmg may be picked up in a workshop course, the 

 way to do it well can only come by practice. In order to 

 prevent this rapiil manufacture of workmen, many Polytechnics 

 in the provinces make each trade class a close preserve for the 

 instruction of apprentices and workmen belonging to that trade. 

 Thus, a carpenter woul I not be permitted to join a class in 

 bookbinding. Something can be said both for and against this 

 preservation. There is the possibility that the smattering of 

 knowledge obtained in a Polytechnic workshop may be thought 

 by some .sufficient to qualify as a workman, but this is very 

 doubtful. On the other hand, if a person wishes to learn it 



Iseems a pity to place any barrier in his way. Many young 

 men are apprenticed to trades 

 for which they have no taste 

 whatever, and an institute 

 which enables them to follow 



their inclination is doing a 



good work. 



Membership of the Insti- 

 tute is open to any student 



between sixteen and twenty- 

 five years of age, upon the 



payment of a nominal fee. 



Among the privileges to 



which members are entitled 



are : admission to ordinary 



evening classes, lectures, and 



'entertainments at reduced 



fees, use of reading-room, 



land facilities for joining 



clubs an(l societies. This 

 > -lem of membership is cal- 



jiikTted to develop an esprit 



di corps among the students, 



«hich will do much to make 



the Institute a success. Only 



by such means can a Poly- 

 technic earn the title of a 



People's University. The 



establishment of these insti- 

 utes has certainly put an end 



o many small science classes, 



iind objections have been 



I'aised to this concentration 



pf work. Teachers who for 



f^ears have shown the 



I" young idea" how to pass 



■louth Kensington examina- 



lions, have found their oc- 

 cupation gone when such an 



educational and social centre 



IS now exists at fiattersea has 



^een started. Hut while 



;veryone condoles with the 



a subject of immense importance, and forms the groundwork of 

 all applied sciences. .\n excellent departure from stock subjects 

 is the formation of a class in technical mensuration, in which the 

 needs of students attending the tride classes are met, and 

 engineers, builders, plumber;, bricklayers, masons, carpenters, 

 joiners, and other operatives are taught the application of men- 

 suration to the practical problems which occur in their work, 

 -Another class worthy of special mention is one in graphic statics, 

 designed to teach the application of graphics to architectural, 

 building, and engineering construction. .\ course of experi- 

 mental work is carried on in a fine mechanical laboratory, only 

 those who possess a knowledge of elementary mathemaiics, 

 mechanics, and drawing being admitted to it. The electrical de- 

 partment, under Dr. .Sumpner, is provided with a well-equipped 

 laboratory, and the electric lighting plant of the Institute 

 is available for experimental purposes. The chemical laboratory 

 is also well. equipped and arranged. Altogether, we are of 

 opinion that the Bittcrsea Institute has started well. Its sphere 

 of usefulness is limited for want of a larger endowment than it 

 at present possesses, bjt doubtless further funds will be received 



from K Phoiivrapb l>y Rii!tH;ll A s„n!.. IT. Bilker street. W. 

 Flo. 3.— Engineering Workshop of the Batlcrsci Polytechnic Institute. 



eachers upon their misfortune, we must point out that the 

 inode in which most sporadic classes under the Department of 

 Science and Art are carried on is capable of improvement. 

 Jsually a teacher rushes to his class-room, gives an hour's in- 

 truclion, and then leaves the students until the following week. 

 \ Polytechnic Institute, however, is looked upon by the 

 tudents in it as their alma mater. The teachers are generally 

 n the building ready and willing to help the inquiring mind, 

 astead of being merely periodic visitors. 



The classes at the Kattersea Institute are chiefly intended 

 jr persons engaged in earning their own livelihood. Special 

 ourses at reduced fees are arranged applicable to various 

 i"ades and industries, and students are strongly urged to 

 ake these courses in preference to single classes ; indeed, 

 fverything is done to give the students a thorough and 

 cientific education. In order to encourage students to take 

 jP mathematics, the fees in that subject are lower than for any j 

 ther science or trade class. Some inducement of this kind is 

 ccessary, for very few workmen recognise that mathematics is ] 



NO. I 283, VOL. 50] 



when the important work it is doing for the quarter of a million 

 inhabitants of southwest London is more widely known. 



This survey would not be complete without a few words on 

 the admirable day schools in connection with these institutes. 

 Until recent years there were no facilites for the education of 

 boys who had passed through public elementary schools, and 

 desired further training in preparation for the workshop and 

 manufactory. Continuation schools, such as those at Battersea 

 Polytechnic, the People's Palace, and the Goldsmiths' Institute, 

 supply the needful knowledge of science and technology, and, 

 at the same time, carry on the subjects of general education. 

 Thoy represent a most important rung in the educational ladder, 

 and every encouragement should be given to them. 



At Battersea the same teachers conduct the day and the even- 

 ing classes. The Institute thus possesses a permanent staff, all 

 the members of which give the whole of their time to the work. 

 There can be no doubt that this system of organisation is far 

 preferable to that in which visiting masters are employed. 



It may be well to briefly state the conclusions to be drawn 



