https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/44ec9125-c675-4873-9058-7ccc634a39bd Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Join us on Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com “Americans at Work - Educational Workers ” is one of a series of films created by the National Trade Union Center of the AFL-CIO between 1958-60. The series shows the value of the industry worker in various fields during a period revolutionized by mechanized production. This episode takes a brief look at the American public education system at the close of the 1950’s. It ties labor and education; showing the necessity of proper education to produce skilled craftsmen and knowledgeable citizens in order to promote an effective democracy. The plight for revolution and public education paralleled against one another. It shows how standard curriculum, including education on the functions of government, supported revolution. It continues to show holes in the modern public education system including overcrowded classrooms, overworked and underpaid professional educators. Union workers petitioned homes, contacted law makers and connected with parents in order to guarantee free textbooks, night schools and school lunch programs. The theme of the feature is the ongoing battle to make quality education available to everyone while acknowledging the significant contributions the labor movement made. The close of the film highlights debates and factors preventing further improvements in the education system. 00:00 The opening segment shows the connection of proper education and personal growth as a school day begins (:15). Education is beast which must be continuously fed following high school and college as students enter the workforce (1:00). A science teacher and student conduct an experiment together (1:19). Issues with the modern system include overstuffed classrooms (1:24); a teacher wades through students’ desks and is visibly exhausted by student questions (1:33). Individual attention promotes better education. A segment connects the plight for good education and the efforts of the labor movement (1:58). The AFL-CIO logo follows (2:03). A union member provides a lecture at Buck Lodge Junior High (2:33) promoting the two-way aspect of learning and teaching. Members go door to door (3:01) canvassing locals, gathering signatures (3:13) and contacting law makers. A member uses a Remington model typewriter (3:16). The film turns to public education’s early history (3:56) over images of a colonial style home. Early continental school houses used a hornbook containing the curriculum on a shingle (4:04). Class attendance was initially low (4:18). The first workman’s party is pictured (4:48) established in 1889. This began the movement for a free universal public education system. National aide for education began prior to the signing of the constitution (5:18). Images follow of the McGuffey’s first reader (5:42). These were graded primers for levels 1-6 written by William Holmes McGuffey widely used from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century. Student attendance was still low due to parental guidance and child laborer’s (5:52). Compulsory schooling was introduced (5:56). A photograph of the newly formed American Federation of Labor follows (6:06) from 1887. They encouraged the study of government in standard curriculum in order to promote thoughtful citizens. Images follow of the DC based Charles Sumner School (6:27). This was one of the earliest schools established for African Americans. Union efforts enabled free textbooks (6:47) and a free school lunch program (7:20) provided by the Federal government. Rutherford B. Hayes school is pictured (7:48). Weaknesses in the education system were gathered in a study by members of a Union Committee on education and other civic groups (8:06). Results showed a need for more classrooms (8:51). Highschool students are pictured on graduation day (9:16). Many were unable to continue their education due to lack of funding. Teacher’s salaries were low (9:34). A teacher works at an Esso gas station in the evening (9:40). Union signs promote better education, better communities and better society (9:58). The US flag and AFL-CIO flag (10:08). A union member heads for an address at the White House (10:53) in order gather federal aid for education. Arguments against include concerns over federal involvement in state or local governmentally regulated issues and lack of funding (11:07). The final segment discusses the need for continuous work by the union for education and involvement of parents (11:42). Students realize their highest potentials through proper education (12:08) This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZukkMJrgkrc Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:28:50 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/44ec9125-c675-4873-9058-7ccc634a39bd All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.