Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-21
MRS. MATHILDA FLETCHER.
A Talk to Minnesota solons and Others on
the Subject of Moral and Industrial
Science in Our Public Schools.

| A Talk to Minnesota So1ons and Others on
| the Subject of Moral and Industrial
Science in Our Public Schools.
| Mrs. Mathilda Fletcher lectured in the hall OF
representatives at the capitol last night, to a
large audience, on the subject of "Moral and
Intellectual Science in Our Public Schools"
Mrs. Fletcher commenced her lecture by re.
ferring to the industrial school system of Ba-
varia, Prussia, England and other European
cities, and the system of household and indus
trial science as established in these countries,
was minutely described.
She referred to the Importance of industrial
art, and paid high tribute to the scientific
household art as established in England.
The speaker claimed that woman should
know as much as man and more, in order to
inspire him in all the departments of science,
art and labor. It was not sufficient to be a
mathematician, but the characteristics of in
dividual science should always be taught.
The speaker was opposed to the charity that
robbed Peter to pay Paul for appearance sake.
The necessity of better and more compre-
hensive curriculum for the training of the
young was urged, land vividspicture was drawn
of the pernicious results Of the present system
of education.
The school system of Switzerland was com.
mended as model for the industrial training
of the young, and the speaker ardent1y advo-
Gated the establishment of industrial exposi-
the Industrial system of educating the young
as recently established in Iowa, where the law
was passed making industrial expositions an
institution OF the State. Scholars of the public
schools were encouraged by the teachers, who
inculcated the elements of political economy
by giving object lessons in cookery, art, and
all branches of trade.
The curse which followed the contempt for
industry and labor was excoriated in very just
and ELOQUENT terms. The arts which minister
to man, the speaker said should be regarded
as the ones to commend the best skill and
trained talent.
It was predicted that the time would soon
come when the perfect cook and housewife
would be the artist and queen Of society, in
stead Of the woman who wore the most dia-
monds and the longest trains; when the young
lady who could not make her clothing or bon
nets would be treated as droue In the hive
and with contempt.
The speaker emphatically urged the neces-
sity of training young men to earn livelihood
and independence by practicing some one Of
the industrial arts. It was not enough, the
speaker said, that young men should be given
an intellectual education; they should be
taught that any kind of honest toll was en-
nobling. The man should be estimated for
the honesty and fidelity with which he stuck
to his toll. The curse of it was that the
schools made pupils believe that they should
all be doctors, lawyers AMI editors.
The speaker advocated better facilities for
industrial training in all the States, and urged
the passage Of q measure providing for indus
trial education in Minnesota. Attention was
called to bill at present before the United
States Senate, intended to facilitate the pro-
mitigation and pras.ice of information and
social and moral science. This is to be done
by having the pupils give examples of honesty,
fidelity, truthfulness, charity, piety, industry,
and other admirable qualities.
She believed that morals were religion; the
world had been on long march towards this
simple rule of the universe; the morals of
conscience, purity, fidelity, industry, beauty
Of character and the law of love; the quail
ties of these laws should be taught to the
young. There were twenty-six letters in the
alphabet and fifty moral excellencies expressed
every beautiful attribute of the mind and soul,
and yet knowledge of the latter was almost
entirely neglected.
In conclusion the speaker advocated that at
least one hour day be set aside i'll the public
schools for teaching the beautiful and moral
excellences of the soul. With this system OF
analytical study, it would not be necessary to
study of the great characters of the past the
pupils would soon come to appreciate the fact
that the world had only had one moral genius,
Jesus Christ.
In closing Mrs. Fletcher called attention TO
two bills for the establishment of system Of
industrial and moral training.