104 THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE 



established in various parts of the country, and the 

 movement in favour of their increase and multiplication 

 is rapidly growing in breadth and intensity. But there 

 is muth difference of opinion as to the best way in 

 which the technical instruction, so generally desired, 

 should be given. Two courses appear to be practicable: 

 the one is the establishment of special technical schools 

 with a systematic and lengthened course of instruction 

 demanding the employment of the whole time of the 

 pupils. The other is the setting afoot of technical 

 classes, especially evening classes, comprising a short 

 series of lessons on some special topic, which may be 

 attended by persons already earning wages in some 

 branch of trade or commerce. 



There is no doubt that technical schools, on the plan 

 indicated under the first head, are extremely costly; 

 and, so far as the teaching of artisans is concerned, it 

 is very commonly objected to them that, as the learners 

 do not work under trade conditions, they are apt to 

 fall into amateurish habits, which prove of more hin- 

 drance than service in the actual business of life. When 

 such schools are attached to factories under the direc- 

 tion of an employer who desires to train up a supply of 

 intelligent workmen, of course this objection does not 

 apply; nor can the usefulness of such schools for the 

 training of future employers and for the higher grade of 

 the employed be doubtful; but they are clearly out of 

 the reach of the great mass of the people, who have to 

 earn their bread as soon as possible. We must therefore 

 look to the classes, and especially to evening classes, as 

 the great instrument for the technical education of the 

 artisan. The utility of such classes has now been placed 

 beyond all doubt; the only question which remains is 

 to find the ways and means of extending them. 



We are here, as in all other questions of social or- 



