Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-01-16
The Industrial School.
By ISAAC KrSLEY, President Of the
Faculty.

Not the penal institution for in
corrigible boys, through which, by
being dubbed "Thdustrial Schoop'
labor and education were at once
insulted, but genuine Industrial
School in our own beautiful city of
Los Angeles. This institution took
its beginning upon the Kindergar-
ten of Miss Marwedel, a German
lady of education and talent,
whose labor and self-sacrince In
the interest of education deserves
all praise. Invited by the State
Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion and his gifted wife, she has
gone to San Francisco, where
wide field of labor awaits her.
A number of teachers, for no 9TH
or motive than the building up of
a school founded on correct prinei-
pies, have devoted their time and
energy to this noble work, and with
devotion and self-sacritice deserv-
ing of all praise, have laid the
foundation of an institution which,
il properly sustained, is destined
to have q great future. They
recognize as a fundamental princi-
pie that education should have as
its leading aim, the qualification of
the man and the woman for the
duties of life. The principles of
science should not only be taught
with reference to their practical
but by their practical
We sometimes talk about the
learned professions, meaning only
those avocations which do not ap.
ply the hand to manual labors.
According to the old notions, only
law and divinity had any
pretentions to learning. Lstterly
the professors" in these depart
ments have been crowded some
what by those of other vocations.
If we are to judge a profession by
the amount of science and philoso-
ply it practically applies, then ag.
riculture and the mechanic arts
should rank among the first. Does
any one apply, practically, more
science than the cultivator of the
soil? Is it not evident that success
will be greater in proportion as he
the principles he daily
applies? And the mechanic, of
whatever department, is not his
work only philosophy applied?
Shall he not understand that phi
losophy? Is it not reasonable that
our schools should embrace in their
both the art and the
science of the industries of life?
1t is not an experiment. The man
who cries visionary" will find in
as in other things, that
the world has left him behind. In
dustrial schools have been made a
success both in the United States
and in Europe, and in all cases the
benefits derived from them have
surpassed the most enthusiastic ex-
pectations.
Just think of it. There ID our
public school system, with the
State Normal School at its head,
which totally ignores every prac-
teal vocation of life. So far as the
teaching of the school-bosks is
the student may gradu-
ate in its highest department and
hardly know that there is such q
being as farmer, mechanic or
in the universe.
Is it not plain that the system
needs remOdeling? Is it not plain
that the industries of life need to
be embraced within the scope of
our educational system
The teachers of the Los Angeles
Industrial School have gone quietly
to their work, expecting the re-
suits to be the best advertisement.
Many persons of the city do not
even know that there is such a
school in existence. But it has
been decided that the time has
come for more energetic public &C.
ton. The papers of the city, such
of them as will allow us to be
heard, must be used as II means of
information OH this SUBJ
ject. The lecture and public dis
cussion, as well, must be called
into requisition. 1t is great and
uOuIO WOTh tuul Is W De uOue, anu
no proper means must be left un-
tried to insure its success.
We hope for active cooperation
of all classes of citizens. Just
now the laborer is FESTIVE under
an accumulated load of oppression.
1t behooves those who desire the
stability of society not only to show
the friends of laboring
men and laboring women, but to
assist in removing the burdens UNI
Justly thrown upon the shoulders of
labor.
The school now organizing la
aims and hopes for
grand future. Although its be-
ginnlngs are humble, the founda-
lions are laid broad and deep. If
the hopes of those now laboring in
the field shall be realized, we shall
see, in not u very distant future, in
the city or vicinity of Los Angeles,
q grand educational institution by
which every useful industry shall
be ennobled, and in which all sci
ences, all arts and all usef ul
knowledge shall find Il compe-
tent instruction.