The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-10-23
INDC STRIAL SCHOOLS.
WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISH.
I'D IN PHILADELPHIA
An Interesting Letter from Philadelphia
Giving an Account of the Workings of
thr several Industrial Schools.

To THE CHRONICLE - Having noticed
with much pleasure the interest taken in
tho -ubicct of industrial education in
North Carolina, take the liberty of writ
inc vou a letter about the technical or in
du.frial schools of this city. Philadelphia
boast, OF having done more in this line
than any city in the country, but without
discussing this question, | shall attempt
to tell you what is being done here now,
in the hope that North Carolina may draw
some useful lessons from it, in the estab-
lishment Of her Industrial Schools.
There are now seven principal institu
tions of this class in Philadelphia, us fol
lows. First, the Manual Training School,
conducted in connection with the public
schools Of the city. Second, the Indus
trial Art School, of the public school sys-
tenn Third, the drawing and technical
schools, of the Spring Garden Institute,
Fourth, the Mechanical Department of
Girard College. Fifth the Industrial
Training Department Of the Institute for
Colored Youth. Sixth, The School Of In
tIustrial Art, conducted in connection with
the Pennsylvania Museum. Seventh, the
school of Design of women.
The Iron Age has a full account of these
schools in q recent number, from which
make YOU a condensed report
i ne lHluSIIldl 4iIi tNCllOol II IlldcI INC
supervision Of the public school authorities
and instruction in it is free. This school
was founded by Mr. Charles G. Leland.
For several years, boys and girls have been
instructed ON certain afternoons in every
week in designing, metal work, wood car
wing etc. Hitherto it has been put upon
a proper basis by the Board Of Education,
who have adopted regulations for its man
agcment in connection with the grammar
schools of the city. Sessions will now be
regularly held 1t will be noted that 4
distinctive feature of this school is that
both boys and girls are received. Every
school in the city is entitled to send to this
training school one pupil for each gram
mar division. who Will be received only
upon the understanding that he or she
viii attend for at least q full term The
course embraces drawing and designing,
modelling in clay, wood carving, carpen-
ter and joinery work and metal work.
The metal work comprises the use and
care ef tools; the use of blast, forge, anvil
and snarling tools; making and caring for
cement; annealing and temperlng; the
shaping of vessels, plaques, etc, from
sheets of metal, by hammering; drawing
and craving the design on flat and curved
surfaces; cmbossing and chasing on the
Hat and curved surfaces; wOrkiI on ce
ment Certificates are granted to pupils
who tni h the whole course of study and
execute an original design in clay, wood
or metal to the satisfaction of the Com
mttee of the Board of Education eXer-
cising supervision over the school. Al
though the course of instruction adopted
for this school is mainly artistic in its ma
ture the training which pupils receive in
the use of tools will be Of much benefit to
them. if they desire to become mechanics,
and il IS very probable that many of the
BOYS who enter its classes will imblbe a
taste for mechanical pursuits, which will
lea them to select such vOcatiOnS for their
life calling.
The Spring Garden Institute, private
institution, has up to this time been the
most conspicuous industrial training
school in the city. 1t was organized in
1s51, maintained library and reading
roem from its foundation, with winter
course of lectures, supported evening
drawing schools, then opened evening
schools for primary education IN reading,
ETC., and in 1878 introduced manual train
iug for which it was found necessary to
establish day instruction. The prospec-
tuS OF the Institute for the season of 1885
N6 is very elaborate, embracing courses IN
mechanical drawing, freehand drawing,
architectural drawing, modelling and wood
carving. painting and designing, mechan-
lcal handlWOrk, principles OF mechanics,
geometry and physics, metallurgy and
chemistry. The staff of instructors en-
braces II specialists, with three vacancies
TO be filed The drawing schools provide
thorough instruction for those who desire
to study art and the technical schools
furnish equally thorough instruction to
those whose tastes or necessities incline
them toward mechanical pursuits. The
course in the technical schools is intended
To cover three years Afternoon classes
have been provided for those who cannot
take the full course, and evening classes
for those who are obliged to work in the
day time. The fees eXacted from pupils
are very low, the charges for the night in
struction being merely nominal, the In
stitute not depending upon its patronage
for its support The manufacturers and
business men Of Philadelphia have con
trbuted toward an endowment fund fol
the Institute which almost supports It.
the deficit being made up by donations
from pubIc-splrited citizens.
The mechanical department of Girart
College has but recently been put in oper
alton. This magnificent charity for or
phan boys, supported out of the princely
revenues derived from the estate of tha
practical philanthropist, stephen Girard
has long been celebrated for the excellent
education it provides for its inmates, anC
the trustees endeavOr to keep it abreas
o1 the age IN every respect. UnhampereC
by restricted income, they are in a posi-
ton to lnaugurate expensive experiments
OF new theories OF education and test theil
advantages thoroughly. The mechanica
department of the college is their lates
addition to the course of instruction. an(
for it they have erected a special building
and provided competent tutors. Th
Trustees hope, in this way, to overcom
the decay OF the apprentice system which
IS entirely cffete, however much it may b
j regretted, everywhere in the North, ant
stu more so in the South, We believe
The educational schools everywhere ar
4 designed to supply in a better way tn
q training which was always very impe1
y feetly supplied by the old apprentice sys
q TEN
81 The Institute for Colored Youth ha
81 done a noble work for the colOred rae
q qarlns the many years of its existence
q It's managers are endeavoring to increas
IL usefulness by providing mechanica
lfInlng for its students.
# lhc School of Industrial Art, which
n conducted in connection with the Penn
81 a!lHanIa Museum, owes its origin entirel
81 - the increased interest in art and art ed
q ucdtlon, which was awakened by the CeI
q tehnal Exhibition. The people of Phi
q @aelpma subscribed fund of $50, 900 dul
ny me Exhibition, with which to purchas
+ EXHIBITS. which uaro to ba DC larOa1v o