EVENING SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. 353 



apprentice to prepare him thoroughly before entering college and the importance to the college 

 student of the experience in practical work gained in the shipyards and at sea. 



Mr. Frear's statement that individual interest should be inspired by the foremen directly 

 over the boys is excellent. The encouragement of the apprentices by the foremen, the super- 

 intendents and the executives is much to be desired. 



The subject of training engineering graduates in shipyards, as referred to by Dr. 

 Sadler, Professor Everett, Mr. W. W. Smith and others, is admirable in principle and is 

 practiced to a limited extent in most yards. The uncertainty attaching to marine construc- 

 tion is delaying the establishment of systematic courses of training such as are in vogue in 

 the large electrical manufacturing companies, but if an aggressive merchant marine policy is 

 inaugurated this subject should be given renewed consideration, and, as Dr. Sadler suggests, 

 such men should be made to feel that there is a future for them in this work. 



The discussion submitted by Mr. H. T. Herr, vice-president of the Westinghouse Elec- 

 tric and Manufacturing Company, is of great interest, especially his reference to their prac- 

 tice of having the heads of the various departments lecture to the apprentices, explaining and 

 describing the work of the different departments in order to give the boys a general idea of 

 the activities of the company, and also his statement as to the establishment of scholarships 

 for trade apprentices and shop men. 



Mr. Towle's reference to the increase in interest brought about among the apprentices 

 by employing the boys upon miscellaneous work and tools in the shops is suggestive and 

 valuable; it is only natural that boys should be interested and encouraged by such oppor- 

 tunities for training. Our experience with technical graduates, I am glad to say, has been 

 more fortunate than that referred to by Mr. Towle. We have a large number of such 

 young men, trained since leaving college, who are now occupying very responsible positions 

 and with the greatest credit. 



The comments of Mr. Coler are very helpful. His suggestion that an opportunity be 

 given for the boys to meet and know some of the capable men of their trades is excellent. 



Mr. Day's point that the number of apprentices suggested seems high would be well 

 taken if the shipyards were able to continue their employees in steady work. The large labor 

 turnover in shipyards is, to a considerable extent, the result of the lack of any national 

 policy for the upbuilding of our merchant marine. Mr. Day's statements relative to the 

 training of the General Electric Company's apprentices are very valuable. It is encour- 

 aging to hear his comment as to his company's belief in the scholarship feature and their 

 hope of incorporating something of this idea into their own industry. The student en- 

 gineering courses, to which Mr. Day refers, should also develop in shipyards when marine 

 work takes its proper place among the industries of this country. 



Mr. Brooks' reference to the qualifications of the boy who enters the apprenticeship 

 courses is important. Many boys fail through lack of this preparation and their apprecia- 

 tion that hard work is necessary for great success. At this point I wish to call especial 

 attention to the mental tests, as referred to in the paper, employed in selecting apprentice 

 applicants for the trades. Comparison between these tests and the shop and school records 

 has demonstrated in this work the great value of such tests in selecting and classifying the 

 boys. These tests also when properly given will frequently save the company from admitting 

 boys to apprenticeship courses who later will be found incapable of carrying on the work. 



I am glad to hear Captain McFarland's remarks as to the main object of the appren- 

 ticeship course : to train skilled workmen and not designing engineers ; and further that in the 



