The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-06-09
Educate Hands and Heads.

Suppose we take graduate from one
II our grammar schools with good
knowledge of arithmetic to cube root,
and fair knowledge OF practical geog
raphy; possessing sufficient command
OF language to express himself intelli-
gently and dramatically, as well as
master OF legible style of handwriting
and some insight into the forms of mer-
camille transactions and correspondence.
Certainly, on any basis of three-R
training, a grammar-school graduate
ought to be reasonably proficient in these
studies. Now, suppose such agraduate
enters one of our commercial houses.
Immediately, almost, he puts his school
studies to practical use, and his advance
ment and his wages depend upon the in
telligence with which he utilizes these
school studies.
His school training, therefore, has
been an admirable preparation for the
particular line of employment he has
chosen. But how does this same school
training apply with boy who, from the
force Of circumstances or from choice,
wishes to 60 into mechanical trader
Do his three-R studies stand him in as
good stead as they do the boy who be-
comes clerk? Are they as directly
applicable in his daily work? DO they
tend to increase his wage-earning pow.
er and facilitate his advancement in his
employment as they do with the clerkP
Let us see. Suppose each boy applies
to an establishment where they employ
many skillful workmen-for INSTANCE,
at Messers. Paines, the furniture manu-.
facturers. Think you Mr.. Paine would
make this boy proficiency in the three-R
studies the main condition for engaging
him in his Workshop Not at all, Mr.
Paine would very likely question the boy
mainly in regard to his proficiency in an
entirely different kind of knowledge,
We may suppose an interview substan.
tally as follows TO take place between
them: This" says Mr. Paine, sis q
very good school record you produce
here, and now you want to become a
skilled workman as cabinet maker?
"Yes, sir "Well, first let me see what
your school for training has taught you
to do that will be of direct value to you
here, and that we can make use Of. Dc
| you know anything about the ordinary
woods we use here, and how we have tC
deal with themp" "No, sir "You
are good strong boy; have you had any
training in the use of common tools like
the hammer, saw, plane, chisel, etcP"
mo, sir"
"Do you know how to read common
working drawing, or how to make
sketch Of common object so it would
be understood by a workman who ha,
TO make itP'
"No, sir"
Now, if Mr.. Paine felt any interest il
this boy he might say, my young friend
you appear to be an intelligent lad jus
the kind of boy to develop into q gooC
workman, but your school training ha
done but very little to prepare you to be
come a good workman in this business
Here You are, Is years old, and onl
able To push and pull with your hands
Now, it will take you a long time {
learn about our woods and how TO haudl
our common tools so as not TO destro
more than your labor Is worth. Beyon
this you will have to encounter the pr,
JUDGE Of narrow-minded workme
against learning the use Of tools too RAJ
idly, so that your progress toward b'
coming skilled workman and earnin
good wages will be slow indeed 70
must therefore, count upon sever,
years OF practical schooling before 70
can expect to earn good wages, and
the meantime the main part Of oil tn
fine literary and mercantile training yo
, have received from your school must |
practically laid aside unless you ca
pursue them after your days work
done. " Boston Transcript.