The second group embraces those companies which combine practice-work with study and which are only partly pioductive.
The third group confines its efforts to work courses alone. In this kind of school the students are doing productive labor continually.
(b) Company continuation school. The second main class of schools, the company continuation school, altho typically German, is gradually working its way into our system of vocational education. Its motto is "Learn while earning." In contrast with the rigid methods employed by the first type in the selection of students, we find few re, strictions here. The company continuation school is marked by a somewhat broader educational outlook than that of the company business school. Accord ingly, we find classes in English, mathematics, history, civics, geog,raphy, spelling, hygiene, typewriting, shorthand, sewing and dressmaking. These are all in addition to a number of other subjects, directly re lated to specific occupations; such as engineering, drafting, machine operation, printing, office work, telephone operation and salesmanship.
- Of this kind there are two groups, those schools conducting evening classes, and those holding day ses sions. The methods of instruction are as varied as the subjects taught. Many corporations, however, use only the correspondence method.
(c) Public or private continuation school. The third main type, the public or private continuation school, is cooperative in its nature and is similar to the first type, second group, in that the instruction in volves both study and practice. The study is done, however, at the public school and under its direction, instead of being done with the company. This method necessitates cooperation between the business organization and the public school, but its practicabil ity is proved by the increase in the number of firms that are using it.
Education for the whole industry.—The stand ardization of the methods and materials of education for each industry is growing year by year. The vari ous industries are attacking their work in different ways. This variety of method may be illustrated by reference to the department stores and the gas com panies of the United States.
The department stores, as a rule, are working inde pendently of one another in their educational en deavors. Strawbridge and Clothier of Philadelphia has developed a system with reference to its own problems, and Stern Brbthers of New York is solving its difficulties by means of its own special methods.
Perhaps the appearance of the Department Store Education Association of New York City shows that the educational work of this big industry will be studied along the more economical lines by all the leading stores that are cooperating in the movement. One of the most thoro and systematic department store schools is that conducted by Stern Brothers. This school, working in harmony with the Depart ment Store Education Association, divides its work into three branches: (1) store system and salesman ship, (2) merchandise (textiles and textile processes) , (3) merchandise (non-textiles, leather, rubber, paper, pottery and glass). Classes are held on company time and the instruction is in the hands of a director and two assistants. Diplomas are given to those who complete a course. That the employes appreciate this work is clearly shown in the organization of an alumni society and the adoption by its members of a special badge. Not only is increased selling efficiency ob servable as a product of this system, but also a grow ing esprit de corps which before was lacking.
12. The work of the National Comniercial Gas Association.—In contrast with the methods of thc de partment stores, there are those of the gas companies, which have attacked their educational problem thru their national organization. As a consequence, the educational material for the commercial men in the gas companies is uniform thruout the industry. Over eight thousand men have already taken advantage of the opportunities offered. While the work is based on the correspondence metbod, individual gas compa nies, such as the Public Service Gas Company of New Jersey, the United Gas Improvement Company of Philadelphia, and the Consolidated Gas Company of New York, Brooklyn and Baltimore, have special well-organized classes under paid instructors, for car rying on the work. Since the gas companies have carried this kind of work the furthest, the following program is given below: Many of the corporations just mentioned, as well as hundreds of other companies, are also cooperating in the work of the Alexander Hamilton Institute, which need not be here described.