The Wilmingtonian., 1885-11-07
Our Schools.

4
1t is stated that a committee Of the Board
of Public Education of Pittsburg is visiting
the Manual Training School of Philadelphia
with view to starting a similar one in Pitts
burg.
This is strong indication of the feeling
that is abroad just now in regard to the
emphatic necessity of manual training
schools and schools of technology.
Our citizens and their representatives who
have charge of educational matters in this
city will be compelled at nc far distant date
to take cognizance in lile manner as the
FittsbuFs, "a, committee i doiss present.
the theoryShss been reiterated over and ,vor
again that school of technology ia
nescessity here. We have no hesitation in
asserting that a school for instruction in
trades would be of superlatively greater adj
vantage as an educational condition than
high school.
The point is simply one as to how we trans
late the term education and what manner
is the legitimate one for the application
of the large money grants annually devoted
to educational purposes in the country. To
re.state the case--the proper conception is,
as we take it, to habilitate the youth of
our country as intelligent, self-supporting
individuals of society, ard to so apply the
greatest use to the greatest number. We
assert that trades school or one of manual
labor, more closely fits the purpose than a
High School. The latter is not condemned.
It's position only, as to utility and practical
advantage to the people is claimed as clearly
secondary to manual schools. As to the
slight practical advantage Of a high school
where offered to the masses there can be but
one honest opinion. The large sums ex-
pen ed upon them do not result in any ade-
quate advantage to the people who pay the
tax. Well.known conditions operate to de-
prive those for whose advantage the appro-
priation was originally made of reaping
any measure of practical good therefrom.
We boldly assert that had our citizens the
courage Of their convictions, our new High
School building would be quickly transform
ed into manual school. And in accom-
plishing this our people would be only doing
their duty to themselves and their children.
What we need in this country, in Della
ware, is more tradesmen and mechanics-or
perhaps more exactly speaking less of that
eycr-increasing class Of young men and
women who can do nothing to earn liveli-
hood How many Of this class are naught
else but tax upon general society. At the
age when they, in their turn should be Gu
gagged in some way Iepayng the large expen-
diture of time and money that has been ex-
pended upon them these young people are
discovered actually unable to pay for their
own support! Yet how many of these
schOlastica'ly educated too, in thatone-sided'
limited sense, are found among the helpless
useless, self-constituted idIers, roaming
about our city looking here and there for the
accident Of a clorkship or other unskilled and
dependent position. These are the outcome
of the High School! Personally and indi
viduaily these young people are quite pre-
scntable, the only objection that can be made
to them is that they are utterly useless to
society in general A system that encour-
ages, even accidentally such condition can
not but be condemned Let us, as soon as
opportunity offers try the substitute, man
ual or trades school. 1t will offer at least
the opportunity of practical results and give
young people trade,
.NsuE ..