The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-02
Industrial Education.

The subjoined note from our frienl Muir
ray calls our attention to movement which
has by no means been sleeping during the
past year, althouh too much neglected in
our columns. Fsom the apathy of our peo-
pie in its behalf, rc fear they will regard al
most any movement on the subject Of popu-
lar education as great bore, yet we are net
without hope that there is still a goodiy
number in this community who viii regard
the proposed convention at Springfield as of
sufficient Importance to justify the expense
Of attending it.
The cause OF industrial education in ILL
nOis has yet received no further attention
from the legislature than the passing of some
eloquent resolves in its favor, and the pre-
sentation of a begging petition to congress
for donation ofland in aid of state ludus-
trial University. Tho friends Of the cause,
however, look for more effective all from the
next Legislature, in which it has some active
and able advocates, who viii not be content
with fine words and empty resolves,
The general outlines Of the plan, which it
will be the object Of the proposed convention
to perfect and lay before the Legislature in a
tangible form, contcmplatcs in brief we be-
lievc, the establishment Of State Normal
School, for the education and preparation of
teachers for the common schools of the state,
the predominant idea in the ccucation of such
teachers being to prepare them TO impart to
their pupils such practical knowledge Of
agricultural science and the lave of mechan-
les rs shall be best adapted to qualify them
for those pursuits in which the mass of our
people are engaged; and this state school it
is proposed to cndow with the state College
and Seminary Fund as it is called.
The fund in question, it will be rcmem-
bered, has been accommodating for number
ofyears, and at present amounts to some two
or three hundred thousand dollars 1t has
never been applied to the object for which
it was set aside, for the reason that the lcgis-
lature has never been able to agree on the
precise nature of the institution to be cndow
ed. 1t must certainly strike every one that
10 enable our whole people to participate in
the advantages to be derived, no more ap-
propriatc institution than the one proposed
could be devised.
Our present purpose, however, is only 10
explain the ohjcctand Importance of the pro-
posed conyen,ou, and not To construct an ar
gument in favor Of .ho proposed application
ofthe university fund rh2--l1cwiny is the
note o! Mr. Murray above alluded to-:
PnLWBAyGu, Noy. 90 lsol
DEAR SIR thought you would like to
know that it is determined to call conven-
ton of the friends of Industrial Education at
Springfield, to be hold on the first, second,
and third days Of the session Of tie Lcris.
,laturc.
The LEADING object of the convention will
be the settling Of the principles and detail.
upon which to draft bin for the incorpora
ton and establishment of an Industrial Uni
versity by the Legislature
. The sessions viii be held in the senate
chamber or the hall OF representatives whcr
they can be obtained When they cannot,
they will be held In the court house
forgot to say that President Allen of the
Farmers College in Chic, an institution OF
20 years standing is engaged to address the
convention. He is an able and most pol
ishcd speaker, and will give interesting in
formation upon the workings of this sort Of
education in Ohio and what has been done
there Your friend,
.... Bronson MURRAY.