|
These Boys Seek No Summer Jobs
300Youths Attending Western Union Messenger School
Always Have Work
New York Times, June 18, 1950
The city's high schools have an enrollment of more than 200,000
students,
about half of whom soon will be searching for summer jobs. There is,
however,
at least one group of students that does have to worry about finding
positions-they
already have them.
This group, numbering 300, comprises the student body of one of the
city's
lesser known institutions, the Western Union Messenger School. The
unit,
which is a "continuation school" annex of the Metropolitan Vocational
High
School, is operated in cooperation with the Western Union Telegraph
Company
and occupies space in the company's main building at 60 Hudson Street.
As its name indicates, the school's enrollment consists of Western
Union
messengers who are below the minimum age for leaving school. Under law,
these
boys are compelled to attend continuation school for a required number
of
hours each week until they reach their seventeenth birthday.
Ralph C. Benefield, who, with Robert Lyons, makes up the faculty,
explained
yesterday that the school was established in 1923 to provide "a central
place
where boys employed by the company could receive educational and
vocational
assistance." At that time the telegraph company had 300 offices
scattered
throughout the city and its messengers, who were of school age,
attended
various continuation schools.
The opening of the consolidated messengers school simplified matters.
Under
the joint arrangement, which. has been since in effect, the company
provided
space, supplies and equipment and the Board of Education provided the
teachers
and supervision.
The school's enrollment generally reflects employment conditions. The
peak
enrollment-more than 1,000 students - was reached during the early
1930's.
During the war, because of the shortage of office help, the school
opened
its rolls to girls and trained them for clerical positions. Now,
however,
it is limited to boys.
Unlike other City schools, the academic week at the messengers school
runs
from Tuesday through Saturday, with each boy receiving four hours of
schooling
a week. Monday is a busy day for messengers, Mr Benefield explained,
hence
no school. The "prima donas" of the force, the bicycle messengers
(because
they have to provide their own bicycles), attend classes on Saturdays,
which
is a quiet work day.
The school's curriculum is non-academic and covers trade drawing,
typing
and general shop work. Individual guidance and character and
personality
development are emphasized. Safety on the job, at home and at play also
occupies
a prominent place in the program. The school motto admonishes students
to
"think critically and be a gentleman."
The turnover at the school is large, Mr. Benefield said, adding:
"We
recognize that the messenger's work is temporary; rather a means to an
end
rather than an end itself."
From the time a boy enters the messenger service he is coached to train
himself
for a better position. Some advance through the ranks and fill
top-level
administrative jobs; others find employment opportunities through
contacts
made as a messenger.
Naturally Mr. Benefield said, most boys would like to follow the
footsteps
of the late Andrew Carnegie, who started as a telegraph messenger. It
isn't
necessary to be a messenger to be successful, he added, "but it helps."
|
|
