Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-13
NKED orrEcnNIcAL INSTRUCTIONS.

Persons intended 10 earn their living at
one cf the professions receive a university
education. They acquire knowledge Of
Latin and Greek, and probably q some
modern language. They stujy mathematics,
philos6phy, history a-d various other
mstters. But suppose instead Of going int
Law, divinity, diplomacy, literature, or some
other pursuit requiring the special irsruc-
lion given in universities, young msn in
tends to become civil engineer, OF architect,
or to engage in some chemical industry, or
some mechanical trade, or Industrial art BE
will require an education suited TO the walk
in / fe he intends to pursue. Where is he edu-
c.tional institution that will do for him
what the unfversity does for the professions?
Such needed institutions are called technical
schools, because in them instructions
are given in m5them atics, chemistry,
drawing, mechanics aud IN practical
detais connected with mechanical
branches. Technical" is what pert9ins to
the usefal or mechanic arts, or 10 any SCI
ence or business, therefore the educational
insli ution the people require, after the COM
mon school has been passed through, Ia the
technical schoolssnd TO the establishment OF
such schools il is absolutely necessary that
pub ic attention should be given, unless the
high stand the United States have obtained
in the production Of implements, and in in
yentiye skill, is to be lost, as our superiority
in building and navigating sea-going vessels
has been lost Peter Cooper, the friend Of
the workingman, whose loss the whole
country dsplores, said sometime ago that If
his life was spared be would provide for
adding 10 the Cooper Union Workshop for
the benefit Of young men wishing 10 learn
how 10 use tools and to obtain training Of
the hand and arm requisite TO form an ac-
complished arlisao, aad many besides him
are to-day feeling the necessity fer such
workshop in every city in The Union. 1t is
only by the aid Of such schools that our
workmen can be kept up 10 the mark the
progress of society has established. The
American has developed q natural spti-
tuda toward the mechanic arts, ss
Italy nas developed toward music,
Germany toward critical philosophy,
and England toward commerce. To
brigg out this valuable faculty to the best
advantage, it must b. cultivated. Not only
the details Of any epecal trade or art must
be acquired, but there must be knowledge
of the principles underlying those details.
While the hsnd performs the head must
know ahy certain ITHACA are done by one
fk,,I bar, With he in
teliect so furnished, with the skilliul hand
directed by the cultivated brain, ex-
cellence OF execution would be attained,
and at the same time new sni better
modes of applying the underlying prinoi-
Piles would be invented. The French are re-
nowned for skill, ard taste, and graceful 6n-
ISL in several Industrial pursuits, and their
high reputation is owing 10 the fact that the
natural aptitude OF the Gallo race has been
cultivated and made the most Of by means
OF technical schools, where the pupil is
taught how to do his work intelligenty, ard
his taste is formed by his being made &C.
quainted with good models aud true princi-
plea. s.. Louis hiss technical schools, Mary.
other cities have similar institutions. But
what is wanting is that eUeTy city should
. have them IS an indispa nssble requisite 10
progress and excellence. Belgium and Ger
many have technical schools, and when the
great London exposition showed the English
! how far they we're behind in several
, important requisites, they ALEC adopted the
system of technical schools. They were
driven to do 80. 1t was either technical
schools or loss Of trade, through being dis
,, tsneed and left behind. Among ourselves
we have got too strongly the idea that if we
would educate youth highly, they must
necessarily go 10 a university and learn
Greek and Latin, We must get out of this
old mt OF custom, and understand that for
the larger part Of our youth the best "high''
educ.tion is sound technical education.