TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 383 
but from the inability of*the lad to handle the tools, and from 
the foreman’s inattention. In every engineering establishment 
there are a few “leading hands,” experienced, trustworthy men, 
and an apprentice is fortunate if one of these takes to him, or if 
the foreman puts the lad with him. 
It seems to me that it is entirely to the interest of the employer 
his apprentices should learn to handle tools, and work in a 
workmanlike manner, at as early an age as possible. That being 
so, much of the loss of time and opportunity, as well as an ad- 
ditional proper training, would be gained by the employer making 
a sub-agreement with one of his leading workmen for, say fifteen 
months, that he communicate to the apprentice to the best of his 
ability information serviceable to the youth in the learning of his 
craft, for which the employer will pay the workman an extvra fee, 
so long as he remains with him, in addition to his ordinary wage. 
On what does this empire depend if not on our workmen? 
Professional men are in vain; financial enterprise is powerless ; 
without the ability of our craftsmen to fulfil the obligations of the 
former. The education of apprentices need not be confined to the 
well-known crafts, but to all callings involving special skill for 
their successful practice. 
This suggests one very important addition I would wish to see 
added to the scheme for technological examinations of the City 
and Guilds of London Institute ; viz., an assurance from the master 
or employer, in the case of an apprentice, not merely that the youth 
is actually employed, but that he is personally bound to John Smith, 
skilled workman, and has been so for the period of so many months. 
Since writing the foregoing remarks I have been informed that 
such a scheme as here described has been in operation some con- 
siderable time at Her Majesty’s dockyards. 
The privilege of instructing apprentices is a reward or advantage 
to the best workman, who gets a special allowance for the instruc- 
tion he communicates to his apprentice or apprentices. A school- 
master is appointed, and the youths have to attend so many days 
per week (one or two) for two hours, and learn some subject 
connected with their craft. 
However much we drift away from old institutions, we cannot 
escape one way or other from this personal instruction in crafts ; 
and if not officially recognized, it is practically, but most ineffi- 
ciently, acted on. 
