Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-27
workingm ems schools.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.l

oil the mclnOuS ana purposes pl tue
workingmen school started by Pro
fessor Felix Adler, with the aid Of scye-
raj rich and philanthropic gentlemen,
and successfully maintained in New
York during the past eight years, is
presented in the March No. Of the
PopUim lScieace Monthly. The value
of the article consists in the better un-
derStanding it affords Of an institution
now too little known. but one that
strongly and worthily recommends
itself to those interested in the indus
trial education.
The practical aim of this school has
been TO gather into its influence childres
from the apparently least hopeful con-
ditionS of society-those belonging to
the vicious, criminal. and debased
classes. whose early associations are of
the streets, alleys. and cutters in the
worst surroundings of city life. The
doors OF this institution are freely
opened TO all who apply for admission.
without distinction a. to seeming intel
ligence. morality. natural aptitude, OBJ
stinacy. or docility Of the child; and
those received are at once admitted TO
all the benefits Of the school for which
they have capacity.
1t can very well be understood that
there are many and grave difficulties to
b. encountered in converting to credit
able pupils those strange urchins of the
streets. born into misery, neglected.
abused. and depraved By the conditions
Of thSir lot and parentage. who have
small appreciation of any other state
than that which seeks To- grind. harasS.
and ill-trcat them. But it is in the
overcoming of these obstacles aud in
gaining the confidence and goodwill
of these ill-starred creatures that the
henigrant management of the school
has achieved its not least honorable
and admirable success. A. these chill
drcn come into the school hungry. Ill
/ clad. and dirty. their wants and neces-
Z sites arc Literally provided for. They
are washed, fed, and dressed, and are
instructed in habits Of cleanliness, 50
that now one who may 80 from room
! to room Of the great building looking
on the bright faces and clearly persons
Of the numerous pupils would hardly
be willing 10 believe they did not come
, from respectable and well-to-do fami-
lies.
The course Of instruction through
which they are led is not arbitrary, and
there are no inicxible rules for all dis
positions of papilS. The first thing
undertaken is the awakening Of the in
teIest of the pupil, and this Is ascom-
plishcd not by means Of direction. but
/ by that unconscious persuasion which
comes of delighting the fancieS OF the
boys. They 90 through the workshop,
and take up with what pleaSes them.
They turn 10 such tools and nipple.
mentS aS attract them, and are allowed
10 use those towards which their in
stinct OF curiosity most urgently i'm.
pels them. Their attention once en-.
, gagged, the instructors are quick to i'm,
prove the opportunity to fix 1t 10y com.
prehenSiyc explanations and illustrated
stories. Though all the principal trade,
are represented in the school, no cllorI
is made 20 incline the little workingmer
to the one or The other, and so. suffer
Ing no coercion, they find nothing irk
some in their selected occupations, anC
enter into the performance Of their du
ties with all the zeSt Of paStiinc.
The theory of the entire system o
instruction in this school is based upoI
natural inclination. Ii is astonishing I,
find The amount and variety of iniorma
ton gathered by child when encount
erug that which plcaseS or interests it
and the managers Of the school hav,
proiitcd BY this observation. The re
suit has more than realized the origina
expectation, and il has been found al
easy matter by this regard of natura
inclination to thoroughly instruct thu
pupils in algebra, geometry, in deco
rating, molding, turning, IN work at tn
forge, carpentry, and to lead them I,
take active parts IN experiments in me
chanics. hydrosiatics, hydraulics, sound
heat. light, electricity, and magnetism
The experience OF the school, how
ever, has been rather combatiye Of tn
theory Of hereditary deprayity, vicious
I ness, and evil propensitieS generally
They have appeared 20 be the results o
condition rather than OF birth. Ii i
declared mot one child out Of tina
multitude which has applied for admis
sion has been found TO be beyond tn
reach Of intelligent treatment not on,
has been found where evil propcnsitie
were more than skin deep"
As indicating the injustice OF III
prejudice and severity with which chill
adren of vicious origin are too apt to b.
regarded, the remarkable instance o
the most unpromising pupil admittc'
10 the school is cited. He was TIL
most stupid. stubborn, sullcn, and i'll
hammered. as well AS dirty, ragged
and repcllant nrchin who ever en-
tered the school. His case was =,
exceptional tina, the examining ply
sisiap declared that lie was, be