Question:
Can anyone tell me how long someone was a journeyman carpenter back in
about 1684 in Bavaria? Was there a normal timeframe and did they always
work with an indiviual for their training?
Answer:
Similar? No. In the US, apprentices are not taken until they have graduated
from highschool, i.e. are 18 years old. In today's Europe, the age is 16,
earlier it was 14. Thus, the US kid loses at least two years. Another
difference is that in the US, apprentices are trained primarily in industry,
and are then expected to stay with the firm. This is in complete contrast to
the "journey" system of Europe. Thirdly, much of US training of tradesmen
occurs in trade schoolds. In NYS, they are called BOCES schools. The teachers
are just that, teachers that do not need to be practitioners of the trade. In
Europe, only those that do can teach. The US system may be called
"apprenticeship," but it is a different system entirely.
>When you call an electrician or plumber to >repair or install something they
>MUST be licensed at the journeyman or >master level ...
Not where I live, in NY State. Anybody can do residential electrical work, and
plumbing. And the standards of professional performance are terrible. I wired
my own house and had it inspected by the Underwriters. The inspector told me
that he never has problems with do-it-yourselfers. It is the pros that cut
corners and do shoddy work to save time.
>While this was all regulated by the "guilds" in >earlier Europe it is
controlled by the unions >[in the US]
Yes, there is an "apprenticeship system" in NY State. It is governed by local
boards, made up from representatives from the school district, the union and
the State government. Only one of these (the unions) are trade practitioners.
