journeyman

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A journeyman is a tradesman or craftsman who has completed an apprenticeship. In parts of Europe, as in later medieval Germany, spending time as a journeyman (Geselle), moving from one town to another to gain experience of different workshops, was an important part of the training of an aspirant master. In later medieval England, however, most journeymen remained as employees throughout their careers, lacking the financial resources to set up their own workshops^{[citation needed]}. In France, they were known as Compagnons. The origin of the word is French.

Origin of the title "journeyman"

The word 'journeyman' comes from the French word journée, meaning the period of one day; this refers to his right to charge a fee for each day's work. He would normally be employed by a master craftsman, but would live apart and might have a family of his own. A journeyman could not employ others. In contrast, an apprentice would be bound to a master, usually for a fixed term of seven years, and lived with the master as a member of the household.

The terms jack and knave are sometimes used as informal words for journeyman. Hence 'jack of all trades, master of none' — someone who is educated in several fields of trade, but is not yet skilled enough in any to set up their own workshop as a master.

Apprenticeship

History

Apprenticeships last usually from three to four years. In the U.S. apprenticeships in metalworking include Tool & Die Maker, Machinist, Model-Maker, Sheet-Metal, Foundry and Gear-cutting. Other related fields include Electrician, Plumber, and Drafting. The peak years for American apprenticeships were 1930-1981, during which time companies found it useful to employ the maximum-allowed apprentices, one for every six or eight journeymen (depending upon the State). In the early-1980 recession most companies cut their apprenticeship programs and did not restore them when conditions improved.

Women were permitted to enter apprenticeships during World War II, but once the men came home it was men-only again until the mid 1970's. Most companies during this time gave a nod to equal rights at that time by having one woman and one black apprentice.^{[citation needed]} Many of those pioneers, however, were laid off in 1980-82 before they completed the program.^{[citation needed]}

Modern apprenticeships

Currently, the concept of apprenticeship varies by country. Apprenticeships can be found online through labor unions, job search engines, government job websites, or through technical schools with an apprenticeship work- study program. Also, technical schools and high school that have career education classes can place a student in an apprenticeship. Traditionally, an apprentice will work under the guidance of a person who has earned the title of "master" in their field, and under the guidance of other journeymen. This apprenticeship is a combination of working and learning. Apprenticeship lasts usually three to five years, ending upon exams (written and hands on) and other requirements (classroom hours plus hours in the field) by the certifying agency having been met. Institutions providing exams and approval also vary widely by location, given by governments, unions, or educational institutions. Once the apprenticeship is completed, the individual is granted Journeyman status, and issued documents (diplomas, certificates of achievement, licenses from state or local jurisdictions) that certify him as a journeyman.

Journeyman

A man or woman who has completed the traditional live-in apprenticeship could consider him/herself a journeyman, as could a man or woman who is educated in his field and passed a board certified test. In the United States, the requirements for a journeyman's license are set by each state. ^{[citation needed]} In the United States, employment as an electrician usually requires that a person holds a state license as a master or journeyman. However, other professions where journeymen status is applicable such as contracting or plumbing, an equivalent amount of work and scholarly experience are just as desirable to an employer.

Other definitions:

Journeyperson

In the United States and Canada some are pressured to use the politically correct word journeyperson in place of journeyman. The modern context of this word could be considered different from the medieval term in that it refers generally to mid-skilled crafts men and women. ^{[citation needed]}

Journeyman

A program for career missionaries

Athletics

Professional athletes are sometimes called journeymen. It is not a technical or well-defined designation, instead it is generally given to players who are skilled enough to remain in pro sports but not skilled enough to earn themselves a permanent position on a team. Players given this moniker tend to be adept at a particular aspect of their sport, but do not possess well-rounded talent comparable to their more-successful peers. They are traded between or signed by several different teams over their career, sometimes even over the course of a single season, based on the teams' need for a player with a specific talent.

Examples of journeymen include Reggie Sanders (8 MLB teams), Kurt Warner (3 NFL teams + NFL Europe and Arena League), Gus Frerotte (7 NFL teams), Dean McAmmond (7 NHL teams), Mike Sillinger (12 NHL teams), and Calvin Booth (5 NBA teams).

See also

• Compagnons du Tour de France
• Guild
• Master tradesperson
• Tradesperson
• Vocational education

External links

• The modern Journeymen

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