728 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION Ih. 
The Trade School, however, is of a very special type for children who 
have to enter upon their life’s work at the age of sixteen or seventeen, and 
who have already decided upon the trade they wish to enter. The age of 
entry into the trade school coincides approximately with that at which the 
boy or girl normnally leaves the elementary school, viz., thirteen or fourteen 
years of age, and the course of instruction lasts for two or three years. 
In London the boy or girl of fourteen who is physically strong and has 
received a fairly good education has no difficulty whatever in obtaining 
employment at a rate of remuneration which appears liberal for a child 
of this age. The consequence is that in the elementary school the vast 
majority of the children leave immediately they reach the age of fourteen 
and become wage-earners. In order to keep children at school above the 
compulsory age for any definite period it is absolutely necessary not only 
to give them free education, but, in addition, maintenance scholarships 
which will recoup the parents to a certain extent for the loss of the earnings 
of.the children. 
The scholarships for trade schools for boys extending over a period of 
three years are generally of the value of 61. for the first, 101. for the second, 
and 15]. for the third year. The trade schools for girls generally have a two 
years’ course, and the value of the scholarships is 81. for the first and 121. 
for the second year. Unsuccessful candidates who do not obtain scholarships 
may be awarded free places. For other pupils a low fee of generally 10s. 
a term is charged. 
No candidate is eligible for a scholarship whose parents or guardians 
have an income which exceeds 1601. a year from all sources. 
The special features of the London trade schools are :— 
(1) The assistance given in the direction of the trade teaching by con- 
sultative committees of business men and women engaged in the particular 
trades for the training in which the school provides. 
(2) The appointment of After-Care Committees, the members of which 
interest themselves in the scholars and advise them with regard to employ- 
ment at the conclusion of the school course, and afterwards see that the 
conditions of their employment are satisfactory. 
(3) The continuance of the general education of the pupils, only about 
one-half to two-thirds of the school time being given to actual workshop 
instruction. 
(4) The prominence given to art instruction, not only in the technical 
requirements for the particular trade, but for the general development of a 
high standard of taste. 
(5) The employment of teachers who have attained distinction as prac- 
tical workers, and who approximate the instruction as far as possible to 
workshop conditions. 
(6) The holding of exhibitions of students’ work to which employers 
are invited and at which offers are frequently made for the employment ot 
students. 
Trade schools for boys have been established in engineering, silversmith- 
ing, bookbinding, furniture and cabinet making, carriage building, art 
wood carving, and various branches of the building trades. The trades for 
which schools have been established for girls are trade dressmaking, laundry 
work, upholstery, ladies’ tailoring, waistcoat making, corset making, mil- 
linery, designing and making ready-made clothing, and photography. 
The development of trade schools in London is proceeding rapidly. The 
competition for the scholarships is becoming keener every year, and the work 
of the students is finding increasing favour with employers. No difficulty is 
experienced in finding suitable employment for boys and girls who have 
passed through the schools successfully. 
