New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-28

paupers or criminals. The policy and
duty of the State is to care for them now.
| In the winter of 1870, the columns OF
the REPUBLICAN gave series of articles
upon this subject, and now, the echo rolls
| back upon us from Boston that the pub
lie school system of the present day fails
to meet the public want it was primarily
organized to satisfy. We do not know that
it is the privilege of New Orleans to hold
candle by which the Bostonians can
read the signs Of the times, but if they
did not catch the idea from the sugges-
tons of the REPUBLICAN, they have, at
least, unearthed the thought by their own
delvings, and will more readily seek a
practical solution of the problem.
We then called attention to the impos-
sibility of the poorest being benefited by
the present system of education, because
they must, at the earliest possible age, be
earners of their own food and clothing.
Those of the poor who could go but a few
years would be called off at an early age
to be apprenticed to trades, in order that
they might be contributing to their own
support, and at as early day as possible
become self-sustaining. But the few, and
those generally of the wealthier classes,
would attain to the high schools; and of
the poor, those who struggled through
the high schools would find themselves
at maturity incapacitated for any re-
munerative industry besides teaching.
Thus, we almost know we should have
but poorly educated artisans, as it would
be very hard for the educated to return to
the small wages of apprenticeship in Or
der to learn trade, and those who were
taken from the schools to learn trade
are taken before they have attained much
literary advancement. Thus, the Bos-
tonians see with alarm that the American
youths are growing fearfully ignorant of
manual skill, and the trades are passing
into the hands of foreigners Thus, also,
the stigma of ignorance resting upon the
artisan, widens the breach between man.
ual occupation and that which is merely
professional; yet, for the good of the State,
we require brains in the workshop even
more than we do in the library.
Our suggestion was that schools should
be organized, combining ren,unerGiue
manual labor, under the charge of an arti-
san, with literary school under the
charge of literary teacher. That the
school should be divided into two classes,
which should alternate with the two de-
partments, each teacher giving instruc-
tons from six to eight hours a day, &C.
cording to the advancement in years of
the pupil. That the aim should be not
only to find employment adapted to the
capacity of the child, but that the en-
ployment should be remunerative, and
the child should be paid for its work ac-
cording to its value. That the artisan
should be paid as seemed best for the in
terests of the child, either by fixed sal
airy or by the profits made on the indus
try under his charge. If the public mind
is not prepared for this change to be uni
versal, let this class of schools be inau-
gurated for the benefit of those who wish
to avail themselves of its provisions. To
the city training school would easily sue
coed the State school of science, agricul-
ture and mechanic arts, for which,
through the representations of the REPUB-
LICAN, Louisiana has attained the muni6- |
cent congressional endowment, and then
could be attained that high grade of ac-
in literature and the arts |
which it might be hoped would in time
90 far to break down the present State
5rade school in the Baton Rouge Peniten-
.iary.
The industries of these schools would |
vary with the surroundings, just as any
arge family would adapt itself to sur
industries for earning its bread
We suggested for the young children such
as matchmaking; the making |
If paper bags, pasteboard boxes, putting
oys together with glue, painting block
etters, doll dressing, fan making, feather
lusters, baskets, brooms, shoes, tinware;
IS they advanced, putting them into tail
'ring, dress making, printing, upholstery,
abinet work; in fact, anything available as
possible for them to do, and be remunera-
i've. Thus the State could ascertain the
of making education obligatory,
nd its children would be reared as all
hildren of well regulated family should
'e, with mind and hands cultivated and
itted for the bread-earning and domestic
judgments of life.
Boston echoes the sentiments of New
orleans; if we should give the sentiment
practical illustration, it is to be pre-
umed there would be no harm done; and
the experiment should prove successful
he benefits might accrue to millions of
agabond children in this and other coun-
ries. Will New Orleans attempt the
roblem of creating remunerative in
ustrial school?
REPUBLIC SAFE IF THE
ARMY DOES NOT DESTROY 1T.