The New Student's Reference Work/Manhattan Trade-School for Girls

Manhat′tan Trade-School for Girls was founded in November, 1902, in New York City, to afford industrial education for girls from 14 years to 17 or 18. The acknowledged need of American industry is such a substitute for the old plan of apprenticeship. In Manhattan Trade-School instruction is centered to a great degree about a few of the simple and useful tools, especially the needle, foot and electric power machines, the brush and pencil as used in drawing and coloring. About these tools centers a great number of industrial occupations. Domestic service is not taught, because the field is not sufficiently inviting to girls who possess the ambition for advanced industrial education. Health and physique are carefully guarded as indispensable to industrial efficiency. There is an attempt to provide a “trade-academic course” which shall secure an education to girls to back their technical training and make for an understanding of economic conditions and the essential relations of employers and employees. Actual orders are taken and filled at market-prices. Graduates of Manhattan Trade-School are easily placed, and have been retained when other employees are being retrenched. The school rapidly outgrew its equipment, and in 1906 removed to larger premises at 209 E. 23rd St., which already are fully crowded. Manhattan Trade-School is a private venture; but it seems probable that somewhat similar industrial high-schools will shortly be provided by New York City. Boston has imitated the school by Boston Trade-School, founded in 1904.