Savannah morning news., 1885-10-16
EDUCATION IN EUROPE.
Manchester and its Facilities for Indus.
trial Training.
From Y Baltimore 81.

From ne Baltimore sun.
MANcHEsTER, Sept. 15.-In my search
for technical education in England one Of
the irst places visited was Manchester.
This IS a city OF about 500. 900 inhabitants,
and is one Of the greatest industrial CEN
tres OF Europe. In Manchester, and in
deed, in forty or more smaller cities and
towns near and around it, evidence is
not lacking 70 prove that ''cotton is king"
The manufacture Of th article, includ-
ing all the various steps that are neces-
sary to produce the finished articles from
the crude material, gives employment to
many thousand busy hands. This extern
sive cotton industry creates a demand for
many other industries. and all the trades
and pursuits IN any way connected with
or affected by It are extensively carried
on. Chief among these is the hardware
business. comprising all the means by
wben machinery is manufactured and
supplied those engaged in the textile
industries.
This again give great impetus to the
iron and coal d g. which, in their turn,
affect other industries. Tue proximity Of
Manchester TO abundant supplies of iron
and coal is one element of its great pros
perity. The history Of the growth and
advancement OF tue Lancashire manu-
featuring Industries is a subject OF
great interest. but lack of space Will not
permit me TO enter upon this subject.
must now proceed to rpeak Of the educa-
tional facilities Of Manchester, and Of
the effect OF skilled and intelligent labor
on the wealth and general well-being Of
the city.
BOARD SCHOOLS.
1t is only fifteen years since public (or
board schools we're first organized IN
England. Previous to the passage OF the
Education Act in 1870 elementary eruca-
tion was afforded on y in schools support
ed by private enterprise or by bequests
Now board schools are organized ia all
parts of the United Kingdom. These
schools are not free except 70 children
whose parents are too poor % pay the fee,
but the cost OF tuition is comparatively
low. There is, however, a strong and
growing sentiment among the most enter
prising people IN favor Of abOlshing all
school tees. Education is compulsory.
and the law provides for the appointment
and payment OF attendance, officers
whose duty II is to see that al children un-
der Il years Of age attend the board school
or some other school OF recognized merit.
In Manchester about One-half OF the chill
dren obtain their elementary education
IN the board schools. | spent cnnsidera-
bic time In visiting some OF the elementa-
~ schools. The methods of instruction
are pointed and practical, and the course
Of study Is systematic and progressive.
Much more attention is Baid 70 instruc-
tiOn in science than is done in our Amer
lean schools. Boys from 10 10 u are
taught elementary chemistry and p3ys-
les, and | was greatly surprised TO see
bow readily they comprehend these sub
jets, and with what eager interest they
watch and explain the sim pie experiments
that were made before them. such in
structiOn and training IN elementary SCI
ence is the very best preparation for the
technical education that many Of them
are destined 10 receive.
Manual training forms a part Of the
course OF instruction n some OF the ele-
mentary schools. and the citizens are
about 70 establish a manual training
school TO be modelled after The one az
WASHINGTON University, ST. Louis.
TIE MANCHESTER TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
Manchester 81 pports a promising tech
nical school, but il b been IN operation
only two years. Last year the attendance
ran up 70 more than ? 900 students. Two
thirds Of these attended the evening
classes, being employed in the shops, fac
tories or warehouses during the day
Thsir ages varied from "a 70 81 years. The
secretary informed me that some Of them
lived from three 10 seven miles from the
school. aud and that they travelled that
distance each way two or three nights
per week in order 70 attend the classes.
Attendance is not compulsory, and teach
eTs maEe no attempt 10 look after their
ab-entees. | asked the secretary what
per cent. Of those who were enrolled IN
the classes attended regularly enough,
PAID attention enough and studied hard
enough 70 receive any real coed from the
school. de said that as nearly as they
could judge from the examination he
would put the number at not less than
90 per cent. ! found this opinion con-
hImed by others with wnom talked.
The method OF destruction is about as
follows: The teacher met ts his class in
the lecture room and explains scientific
principles, asks and answers questions.
criticises work that has been done. and
assigns tasks TO be done by the time Of
the next meeting. In this way about one
hour is occupied, when the class adj urns
20 the laboratory 10 try experiments or 10
the workshop TO spend another hour in
doing the thing about which they have
been talking. The instructor is assisted
IN giving the laboratory or shop instruc-
tion by several hel lpers whom he chooses
from the class. Students are frequentl,
referred 70 scientific books and magazines
% look up some subject on which they
are 70 report TO the class at future meet
ing.
The fees charged for the evening in
struction vary from IS cents to 81 80 pei
term Of four months. All apparatus.
chemicals and tools are free. Students
may attend the lectures only, but none
are admitted 10 the laboratories and shops
unless they also take the theoretical stud
les.
OWENS COLLEGE.
Owens College is the first and most i'm
portant institution Of Victoria University.
While u makes ample provision for lib
eral education IN many departments Of
study, the course In science and technol-
oey Is especially complete and well adapt
ed 70 meet The wants OF those who seek a
higher training in these Subjects. One
commendable feature OF this college is
that It's management looks after the wants
OF the work people. There are regular
evening sessions, afurding persons who
are employed during tbe daV an opportu.
nifty 10 pursue advanced studies in all the
college departments. From 800 10 700
students attend these evening classes,
some of them continue long enough 10
complete the university course, while
MANY others obtain the college honor
certificates for proficiency in technical
studies. Most Of the evening students
are men from - 10 30 years Of aye. some
attend the classes for the sake of the rec.
reation thus afforded them after their
days work. A few nave some speciality
a. aH..