That the trip may be one of profit the instructor should see to it that the pupils are prepared for the trip by previous talks on what is to be seen and by after talks on the meaning of what they saw.
In every case it will be necessary, or at least advisable, to have a time arranged with the superintendent of the factory to be visited. Pupils should be given to understand that they are being privileged and must act the part of gentlemen, refraining from asking needless questions of the workmen or handling the equipment. In many factories no talking to the men at all is desired. The questions of young pupils are often impertinent and embarassing without their intending them so to be. The better plan is, as has just been suggested, to have the pupils prepared by preliminary talks then take them thru the shop with eyes and ears only open, clinching the lessons of observation afterward.
Pupils should keep together in solid lines and, should any accident occur, the instructor should see that any loss to the factory owner or workmen is “made good.” Usually the class will voluntarily make recompense. It is safer and less likely to cause embarassment if it is understood beforehand that all members of the class who go will be expected to help repay the instructor for any money so expended.
One might think the company well able to stand such loss. It is, but it is not always the company’s loss. Even if it were, their courtesy ought not to be abused. We have in mind a mold for an intricate piece of casting representing a day’s labor for two men ruined by a student’s accidentally brushing against it with his overcoat. As the men were on “piece work” it meant no loss to the company, except delay in getting out the finished article. It did mean a loss to the two men, who could ill afford it. The instructor quietly settled for the damage or loss and the pupils reimbursed him upon reaching school. This probably prevented the factory from excluding succeeding classes as undesirables. In woodworking shops there is little chance for such accidents. Nevertheless workmen there do not wish their tools or work handled. Each class should bear constantly in mind, while on the shop excursions, that it is making succeeding classes welcome or unwelcome in that shop.
7. Stock Bills.
Every piece of woodwork made by a pupil consisting of more than one member should have in addition to the working drawing a carefully made stock bill. The reason is two-fold: It not only prevents the pupil’s cutting out stock wrongly thru misreading the drawing, but it saves time for the pupil. It is a practice that he will have to master later in life if he follows any of the mechanical trades and is just as essential a part of his shopwork as is the drawing or woodwork. Where the drawings are made by referring to plates, experience has shown that many a boy will be able to make a good drawing without fully interpreting its meaning. The making of the stock bill will show him his weakness, also it will show the instructor. No boy can make out his stock bill without being able to read his drawing. After the drawing has been made and then its stock bill, the boy will have become so conversant with the plans of the thing he is to make that few mistakes are made in working the wood, that is, mistakes due to ignorance of the drawing.
STOCK BILL
(Form)
| Name | ________________________ | Article | ________________________ | ||||||||||
| Grade | ________________________ | Kind of Wood | ________________________ | ||||||||||
| Finished Sizes | Cutting Sizes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pieces | Thickness | Width | Length | Pieces | Thickness | Width | Length | ||||||
| 1 | 3⁄8 | 3 | 5 | 1⁄2 | 1 | 3⁄8 | 1 | 3⁄4 | 6 | ||||
| 1 | 1⁄2 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 4 | 1⁄2 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 1 | 3⁄4 | 5 | |||
| 2 | 1⁄2 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 9 | 2 | 1⁄2 | 3 | 1⁄4 | 9 | 1⁄2 | |||
| 1 | 1⁄2 | 5 | 1⁄2 | 12 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 5 | 3⁄4 | 12 | 1⁄2 | |||
INSTRUCTIONS