The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-14
a School of Technology.

At the recent Farmers Convention" = q
proposition was introduced by Maj. Koin-
er. we believe, looking to the establish
mept of a School, or II chair in some one
of the colleges, Of Technology. The res
olution had reference to the formal presen
tation of the subject to the Legislature
through a committee, to inquire into the
expediency and feasibility of some practi
cal step having for its object facilities for
the education of the youth of the State in
technical knowledge in mechanics. chem
istry and other related studies, with view
to manufacturing industries and higher
skill in agriculture. The want of the
State is this very knowledge. No enterprise
of Importance can be suggested ,unlessit is
met with the objection that our people
Lave not the necessary information to
make it successful, and that to inaugurate
it we would be compelled to invite from a
distance those whom we do not intimately
know and could not repose that confidence
in we could in our own young men were
they otherwise competent. For the prop
er and profitable utilization of our material
advantages, there is nothing more essen
tial than skilled labor and technical educa-
ton. N OF only is this necessary for the
successful induction of manufacturing
enterprises, but it is equally important for
the young men themselves. There is a
criminal neglect in the training of the
- k..4o
| LESSONS and the stores constitute the
principal channels of employment, and
this leaves vast army Of young men left
| to drift along as best they can, with no de-
trate energy. for there is false notion
a5out labor prevailing, which is growing
into a forceful obstruction to usefulness.
One half of the youth of Virginia are
growing up to the business Of loaing.
There is no field in the professions that is
broad or inviting enough for all. Weak
and silly notions about trades and manual
labor are inculcated through the conven-
tionalities Of society, where standard Of
responsibility for admission is set up, that
protests against the recognition of those
who have the courage to enter upon any
of the mechanical branches. or other hon
orable employment than theprofessions.-
In this society is radically wrong-wick
eddy perverse-and is bringing forth its
fruits in q generation of worthless, idle,
dissipated youth, who can never prove fac
tors in any good work
The age we live in is practical-its de-
mands are practical, and it requires prac-
tical, as well as technical knowledge, to
successfully enter the avenues of enter
prise through which the redemption of
the South must be reached. Virginia is
peculiarly in need of that skilled knowl-
edge adapted to the development and tie
utilization of her many natural advan-
tages, and not until our young men are i'm
pressed with the fact that they have an
important work to do in training them
selves for this great work, can We
hope for the advancement commensurate
with our advantages. A school Ct Tech
nology would largely supply the much felt
want, and we can conceive of nothing
more practical, after the preservation and
success of our Public Free School System.
than to direct the minds Of our young men
to useful pursuits, through the instrument
tally of such an institution.
We notice that Maj. Koiner has been
invited to deliver an address before some
society OF. educational institution at New
Market, in short time. Would it not be
well for him to enlarge upon the subject
on that occasion and endeavor to stimulate
an interest in the proposition submitted
to the Farmers Convention. Not only
this, but he should endeavor to create and
educate public sentiment through the
press to the great Importance of some such
school as he has suggested, and to that
~ end we offer him the use of our columns.
1t has been matter Of thought with him
or he would not have preached the ques.
; tion in the Farmers Convention. Let
him give the public the benefit of his ideas
and his investigation, and much good may
follow from it.