The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-09-29
Agricultural and Mechanical College.

EDITORS CLARION: A correspondent told
US a few weeks ago in THE CLARION, that
he had seen catalogue Of the A. and NJ
College, and was surprised to find that no
language but English was included in the
curriculum. He thinks that something
like complete course of study should be
provided there for students l present this
as his view Of the matter, without remem-
bering or quoting his exact words. It
seems to me that it is we'll for thoughtful
men of the State to inquire into what ought
TO be the nature and objects of this College.
1t has already cost the State a great deal of
money and must to some degree be a per-
petual claimant on our Treasury, if its true
value is to be realized. But this expendi-
ture ought not to be wasted on subjects that
belong to other schools and are not essential
to be taught in that. Why should the A.
and NJ. College have anything to do with
Latin and Greek, and Saxon and German,
or even with English as such? All these
and other languages can be taught in train
ing schools and the University, where their
linguistic and pathological bearings can be
appropriately unfolded, and where their
needed influence on intellectual training
can be realized. 1t is not understood that
the A. and NJ. College is to give a thorough
education-it is an Agricultural and Me-
ehanical College, technical school, and
need not, and doubtless should not, have
anything in its curriculum except what is
necessary to the study of these arts as arts
1t seems to me to be a great mistake to have
one great school filed to bursting with boys
who are in search of common school
education" where they may do little
work in the shop or field to help pay ex-
penses, and call this an Agricultural and
Mechanical College; nor will it be better 10
attempt collegiate course" to which
shall be added ''three hours work per day
for pay and instruction"
1t is stated in the papers that the maxi
mum number allowed-275, is already reg
istered, and more than hundred appli-
cants Eave been rejected. What is to be-
come of these rejected sons of Mississippi?
Is it not evident that this one school, even
if its capacity were four times as great
could not meet the demand for Common
school education" Indeed, were it 80 en-
larged, only a small fraction of the need
would be metz apd this fraction would be
very unequally ditributed over the State,
while all the people would pay the taxes.
The attempt at either a Common school
education" ora collegiate course will prove
impracticabe and undesr esrable-undesrab
because either of these objects can be better
accomplished elsewhere. Ii The State Is To
provide common school education at all,
She must do it equally for all the children,
and let the schools be so graded that those
who can reach the higher forms can have
access to them. The technical character OF
the A. and NJ. College, just as in the case
of any other technical school, requires that
the common school and classical courses
shall be studied precedent to entering upon
the mechanical and agricultural course.
Those two first named are certainly needed,
but they should not be mixed with the lat
ter, ter this latter will nave enough i'll 1t
to engage the energies of Il student for two
or three years in the sciences which special
ly pertain 10 those arts, # npst be remem-
bered that a competent amount OF manual
labor is essential to the student IN this teen |
meal school; tor he himself must put hls
theory and science to practice. IL IS TINS
practice that constitutes the foundation OF
the technical school; for the mere SCIENCE |
and letters can be taught elsewhere, What,
then. should be the limit of the Cufriel-
lum in an Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege? 1t seems reasonable to say: Those
natural and mathematical sciences which
specially balanr to these arts. Ent the
answer made TO thtS will perhaps be, that
the student of these sciences, before he
can properly understand and apply them,
needs a great deal in the way Of mental
training, and knowledge of the use OF his
own language, ana some acquaintance with
classical languages, geography. history, etc.
True, but ali this should be learned before he
goes to that technical school Let the
primary and preparatory school have their /
place, their own provisions and do their
WORK under conditions of greatest advan-
tage, and lee tke special schools have their
place and keep to their s4,eeial work, taking
into their body such students oa!y gs are
prepared 10 enter directly upon the special
studies An A. and NJ. College which is
technical omnibus, will be distinguished only
for its failure. PRACTICAL.