The idea of Apprenticeships have been around for a long time. At first they were only restricted by the contract agreed upon. Then as society began to change, and the value of a childhood spent with families was recognized, and also economies improved, child labor laws began to be more of the norm. With these new concepts of child labor laws becoming a restriction, the definition of what an apprentice was changed gradually.
Most of you have probably at least heard of the tale of Oliver Swift. From accounts that I have read in old court documents and poor house ledgers little Oliver's trials and hard luck life was one that many children throughout the ages have endured. His good fortune, I am sorry to say, was more of the myth. Many times a poor child's only hope was to be apprenticed to someone, or a company, that would HOPEFULLY not be cruel. Perhaps that child would have the fortune to be clever and learn a skill, thereby enabling them to prove their worth in an over burdened society. I believe that is why so many were apprenticed or just made their way to the new Americas. There was a continual shortage of labor and ANYONE that had a basic level of skill was an asset to the local community or the company that employed them.
I have also began to compare my employment experiences in my younger years to that of more recent times. I observe what goes on in the work places I frequent on a day to day basis. Something I am witnessing is a\the lack of training before a new employee is set loose on the public, or the plant floor. They call it on the job training. I call it not respecting the craft. When I first entered food service and then later retail as a teen and twenty-something never was I sent out to face the customer with out at least 2-3 days of training with a manager or trainer. In some of the department stores I worked for there was a separate training room/s with mock sales floor and products. We studied at least 2 weeks with a trainer. An employee was given 3 chances at a 2 week training course before they were let go - either on the sales floor, or to find other employment. During that time we were trained on the mundane, as well as the insane, possibilities that could occur on the sales floor. We were trained how to handle difficult situations with customers so that the very most care was taken to be a professional, present yourself as such, and present a good face for the company. We were trained on all possible equipment that we would encounter with in that particular store also. It was not satisfactory to face a customer and say "I don't know how to do that." You were expected to already know. I blame the business community for allowing the standards for employment to drop. It should be alright to expect your employees to know how to do their jobs, but training should be provided. I do not mean just an orientation into the policies and procedures that a company has to follow either.
I now see that I took to these practices so readily because I believed in the training systems of older times. One should be an apprentice for a period of time. Then when they are able to conduct business or a craft efficiently and effectively they can be set out on their own to be a journeyman. That term comes roughly from the French for day - journee. A man to be paid by the day. A journeyman could not train or have apprentices, and he could not have his own shop. He was considered skilled but lacked the experience that was called for to be a master craftsman. A master could open his own shop, have apprentices and employees. As one can see to become a master at your craft was the coveted role. More money, freedom and prestige within the community.
http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/EuropeafterRome/LifeinMedievalEuropeLesson.html
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