Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-09-07
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

, one WQlcn Is QeSefVeuly engrOSSlHR
much public interest at the present
time The Senate of this State has
twice passed bill for the stablish-
ment of iron industrial schools, but the
House failed to take concurrent action.
The chief advocate of the bill in the
Senate was the Hon. Evan HOLDEN, OF
Allentown, Senator from the Six
teenth district, and in the course of his
remarks on the 28th of March last he
used this powerful argument:
Some seventy years ago the desire
and necessity of common education
brought about in this State, by the
law of progressive development, a
system of education known as the COM
mon-school system, And it cannot be
gainsaid that by the progressive devel-
opment of that system many public
benefits have accured. But the inquiry
now presents itself to all progressive
minds, by reason of the advancement
of such an education-should not
something be done to further an edu-
cation so begun that it may be of a
4
to the people of the State Of Pennsyl-
vania, and by whom should this be
done !? This is question which has
often presented itself forcibly to indi-
| vidual minds The necessity of
equipoise in all things has often been
very mathematically demonstrated.
And the question of accomplishing an
equilibrium in our system of education
is one which is beginning to agitate all
social and business circles of the world.
The Lycurgian system of education in
Sparta failed because 1t was purely
physical training. The purely mental
or intellectual system of education in
Attica failed because the mind became
too great for the small amount of
physical development-or, in other
| words, for the want of an equipoise of
development. We are now gradually
drifting on toward the same state Of
affairs.
The United States are overrun with
statesmen, politicians and professional
men of all colors and grades and
when any of our great manufacturing
firms are in need of skilled mechanics
they cannot find them here, but must
advise their foreign agents to import
skilled labor from England and Ger
many. What is the cause of this state
of affairs Certainly not the common
school system but the want of a sys-
tenn that will educate the hand as well
as the brain. 1t is an axiom of natural
law that without healthy body there
can be no healthy mind Every sys-
tenn must have an alternative, and 80
it has become necessary in our day to
seek system of education which will
balance the system now in vogue. 1t
is true that individuals have under
taken in this country to establish
schools in which the rising generation
may procure an education of the hand
as well as of the mind but, am sorry
to say, they are few and far between,
and are not adequate to the demand.
But the example which these institu-
tions, though few, have set is one
which tends to bring about the most
beneficial results-results that have at
once become surprise even to pro.
crossing humanity.
But to the subject. What kind of
education do we in Pennsylvania need
to aid an already prosperous Common
wealth? The question is simple, and
yet easier is the answer which, upon a
few moments reflection, will present it.
self to all intelligent men, viz: Iron
industrial schools established and sup
ported by the State In this Common
wealth, which produces almos. one
half of the iron in the United States,
the minds of young men and boys are
trained too much on literary founda-
ton. They are taught to follow the
ignis fatuus of great fortunes by reason
of literary accomplishments, when, in
fact, nine-tenths, nay, indeed ninety
nine one-hundredths, doom themselves
to fill the grave of poverty.
1t is by the arts, sciences and me-
chanics of foreign States and countries
that their wealth becomes visible and
their industries known. 1t is not by
reason of the huge stone and immense
Pyramids of Egypt that it is well and
favorably known among the countries
of the world, but it is by reason of the
art and science employed by the Egyp-
tians in dressing that stone and build
ing those Pyramids 1t is not because
Connecticut raises cotton that it Is
known as the greatest cotton manu-
featuring State in the Union, but by
reason Of the art and science there i'm
| ployed in manufacturing such articles
as are made from cotton and presum-
ably Connecticut derives more direct
benefit pecuniarily from South Caro-
lina's cotton products than does that
State herself 1t is not by reason OF
the iron found in Massachusetts that
it is 80 favorably known as one of the
greatest iron manufacturing States of
the Union, but it is by reason of the
art and science there taught and prac
tised in making things that are made
of iron, and iron and steel; and yet
Pennsylvania, with its untold millions
of natural wealth, will presistently re-
fuse to allow its boys and young men
TO have no other facilities for education
than to make of themselves editors,
lawyers, doctors, dentists, ct cetera.
The apprenticeship system, a system
of bodily slavery, out of which they
emerge only to be cast aside when
they make application at our machine
shops az mechanics, will no more urge
itself upon the minds OF men as it once
did. That time has passed by in this
country as well as in others where pro-
gressive development is the acme OF
wealth and prosperity, and that argu-
ment, by actual experiment. will fall
far short of it's mark. Let the people
then see whether (by abolishing, il
necessary, a few normal schools and