Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-13
Social Science Association.

A
above the Chain Bridge and the lower boundary
line Opposi Alexandria.
Social Science Association.
FAULTS OF SCHOOL TRAINING-TOO MUCH DE-
PENDENCE UPON BOOKS AND FORMAL RECITA-
TIoNs-INDrsTRIAL EDUCATION NEEDED.
At special meeting Of the District of Column
bia Social Science association, in the parlOrs of
the Speneerian Business college. the committee
on industrial education presented report
! through its chairman. Col. Edw. Danies-Dr
Geo. FL. Mitchell in the chair, Mrs. Helen Rand
Tindall secretary. The following were the chief
points of the report:
Our present system of school training de-
ponds too much on books and formal Rotations
1t eXalts the memory at the expense of the other
faculties. 1t Grams the mind with phrases and
formulas which confuse and enfeeble it. 1t is
defective in scope and mistaken in AIM The
objective is rather the examination day than the
whole after life of the cliid. The youth in these
schools are educated as if they were all to be
lawyers, preachers, college professors or clerks
to have plenty OF money, and be waited upon
1 like the fine ladies and gentlemen they read of
| in the story books. Yet it is certain that nine
| out of ten of these children must live by work
/ ing with their hands or sink into pauperism,
/ prostitution or crime. To send these children
out into the world with only the literary and i'm
practical instruction which our schools afford is
cruel. if not criminal. A general who should
| spend the time of his soldiers teaching only
what would make brilliant parade. and bring
them into action without knowing how to load
and fire their guns. or cook their ratiOns, would
/ be justly condemned. Our present education is
! scarcely less absurd.
| The remedy lies in charging the scope of
| school training and making it intensely practi-
! cal. The child needs to know the material
world, its laws and forces. and how to exert his
| own powers so as to secure safety, progress and
happy life. This industrial education will do.
1t is needed by every child to make him indie
pendent and self-sustaining. The child has
| sacred claim upon society for the training that
shall Dit him to earn living. If left to chance,
| there will be thousands OF willing youth who
have no opportunity. The opposition to APP
| prentices is well known in all trades A youth
has little chance, especially in this city; unless
he can get into government employ. The at
tempts to pick up trades are seen in the thous-
| ands of bunglers who beset every branch of in
industry. The loss of money, comfort and life
| from accidents so caused is incalculable.
| SPECIAL SCHOOLS OF APPLIED SCIENCE
to give instruction in the useful arts will alone
| supply the want. In these work instruction is
methodzed and made agreeable to children.
| 1t becomes a recreation. The plays of children
are mainly imitation work. Taking advantage
Of this instinct. give the child good tools show
| him how to use them. how to save his forces and
/ get the best result in the shortest time He
| will take to work as naturally as the duck does
4
| OF valuable manual skill, but the best mental
| discipline. The intelligence put into the work
| again reacts upon the workers brain and builds
| up its best powers in healthful symmetry
The obligation to do something useful is also
| early neulcated. Without this sense the child
grows up
A SHiRK IN THE FAMILY AND A NUISANCE IN
SOCIETY.
| and the state industrial education Is therefore
the essential condition of intellectual and
| moral growth. AS all experience proves it is
the best foundation of character and of success
in professional life. 1t is not for the Door and
neglected class. nor for those only who live by
honest labor, it is the proper training for every
| Child.
| WHAT IS NEEDED.
| To complete our system Of school instruction
! many things are needed. Among them, your
committee recommend-1st. that central
school be established in this city, especially
| devoted to instruction In the useful arts. This
| school should be supplied with the most COM
plete machinery for industrial education. and
gardens should be attached for horticultural in
struction. 1t should be opened to pupils as soon
as they have attained good knowledge of read
ing writing and arithmetic, and it's graduates
| should be able to practice probably the trades
| they learn there when they finish their course
| In 1876 the Russian exhibits at the Centennial
| contained models of the machinery and products
OF schools for work instruction. They attracted
much attention. Massachusetts, copied the plan.
These schools were started in 1868 in Russia.
They are largely initiated in Europe, and have
been wonderfully successful.
CONGRESS GAVE TO THE STATES
ample funds for such schools in 1862. The peo-
| pie of this District had no part in that magnif-
cent donation. On all just grounds 1t may be
| claimed now. and the need and value of it can
be readily shown. There should be no opposi-
ton to 1t In any quarter. 1t is not proposed to
interfere with the present schools, but only to
start another, affOrding additional advantages
! I'd. Your committee would recommend as the
1 foundation Of industrial education the adOptiOn
OF the kindergarten methods In the primary
| schools.
Sd. Courses of lectures upon the physical SCI
ences, fully illustrated. given to the schools as
part OF their regular class instruction would do
much to promote useful education. II to this
! We're added excursions for making collections in
/ botany. geology, etc, both pupils and teachers
would find delightful recreation and source
OF beautiful, activity for the body as well as mind
| 9Th The kindergartens, the various schools
! for art, sewing and cookery, should be most
! literally encouraged. ALI are doing good work
/ in the right direction.
5th. The Industrial Home School at George
| town is doing noble work. 1t needs addi-
tional money to give 1t wider scope and more
varied Industries. Its management should have
| ample powers to take and hold all neglected
children. No wiser appropriation can be made
| than that which is needed to convert the hum
dreds Of Idle children in our streets from
burthen and a menace to useful men and
women who will be a support and strength to
the nation. Provision is needed for girls, and
it cannot be doubted that persistent demand
for this purpose Is an imperative duty.
The report was discussed by Mrs Mills. DIR.
Rowland. DR.. Mitchell, Mr.. Stiner, Mr.. Mills
and others.
AN AMUSING incident connected with the
Grand National Steeplechase at Liverpool IL go
Ing the rounds Of sporting circles. At one Of
the fences there was tumble and q scrimmage
| half dozen horses coming to grief In the
hurry and confusion, Adams, the jockey, who
| started from the post upon Liberator, hastily
remounted aud dashed home. While weighing
In he remarked to Mr.. Gregory the weigher
that the old horse had not jumped as he used
| Gregory asked what old horse he meant, and he
made answer that IL was Liberator Of course;
whereupon he was Informed that the horse he
had ridden in on was not Liberator but Icni-