The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-12
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.

We are justly proud OF our free school
system. That it is good one, has been
attested by time and experience. 1t has
grown little by little into the splendid
organization it now is. But it is no.,
vet complete. 1t lacks its growing glory
viz: Provision for Industrial and
Scientific Training. 1.-THE great warfare
Of the nineteenth century is industrial
warfare; the struggle between great
nations for supremacy IN various in
dustries, and for control of the
various markets" This fact has forced
itself upon the thoughtful, and many
efforts have been made to give the edu-
cstion'of boys more practical turn. In
many colleges the old classical course
has been forced to give way to training
for business, and schools of Technology
have sprung up in few manufacturing
centres. The recent convention OF
prominent educators at Washington gave
prominence to the idea of encouraging
the Industrial Education Of the masses.
Prof HERvEr, the accomplished
Superintendent of the Wheeling
Schools, is daily becoming
more convinced, by his observation. OF q
needed reform in our system in this d.
rection. "Let the youth Of Britain take
note" wrote DIR. JOHN ANDERSON, one OF
the British Commissioners TO the Centen-
NAL exhibition, in concluding his report
on the display of machinery. sour past
prosperity came by well directed thought.
AS it was in times past, so now it is the
same; England's future greatly depends
upon the intelligence and mental activity
Of her sons.
ain reckoning up the significance of
this grand sggEegsge of machinery, and
congratulatlng ourselves on its results, as
showing how the toll of man can be
mitigsted, while the wants of civilized
lie are sbundsntly provided for, it Is i'm
possible not TO feel that an important
change is approaching. A century ago
no conditions existed which could have
enabled ADAM SMITH to anticipate 8
time when the producing power OF
machines would exceed the requirements
of the human race. That state of things
is rapidly approaching, and it Is for the
philosopher and political economist to
consider carefully before hand the I'M
pen ding revolution, SO that 1t may all
work for good to the family of mankind"
Several foreign nations" says Gov
ernor HARTRANFT in his recent message
TO the Legislature of Pennsylvania, "and
q 'ew OF the States have forseen the con-
hict and begun to educate their people"
But those people who fail to give heed
and prepare themselves for the battle,
must be content to be hewers of wood
and drawers OF water fer more highly
cultivated communities.
Wheeling is in urgent need of higher
Industrial Education tor her youth. We
want no more lawyers; and doctors ard
preachers we have in plenty. Our need
Is Educated Mechanics. Mr.. s. p. WooD-
WARD remarked to US one day, "When
Americans come TO know IS much of
Chemistry as they now do about Ma
hinery, we can defy the combined world.
You may then abolish your tariffs; for we
can beat the world in mar ufscturing."
There is not prominent msnufac-
turer or mechanic in this city who has
not sorely felt the need of change in
our educational system in this regard.