The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-04
An Industrial Education Display.


1t was a happy thought of the Industrial Edu-
cation Association TO give, in Cosmopolitan Hall,
ID exhibition of the handiwork of young chill
iren, as a practical means of awakening public
appreciation of the value of industrial education
III the schools. The exhibition opened on
Wednesday, and its result must be a pleasant
surprise to the MANAGERS; it is certainly one to
the casual visitor. The idea at first was to limit
the exhibition to schools and asylums within
thirty miles of New York, and to children under
sixteen years of age. but the pressure was so
great that the managers were obliged to greatly
enlarge the scope of the exhibition by admitting
examples of the work of children of PHILADELPHIA
New Haven, Worcester Cleveland, Chicago and
St Louis, as well as soma by children over six
teen Prizes will be given only to those und err
that age however.
The display is really remarkable, no less for
Is scope and variety than>for the skill displayed
The objects exhibited range all the way from
8 plumbing work oy pupils of the New York trade
Z schools to delicate laee and embroidery from
dozens of asyums and schools. There is excel
lent carving in wood aud stone. clay modelling
in which the Philadelphia children excel, and
hammered brass work by the Brooklyn orphan
asylum children all of them under twelve years
of age. Drawing both free-hand and mechani-
Gal, forms a prominent part OF all the exhibits
AsIhe most striking piece of work is ife-size
Ahead by an eighteen ear-old pupil of the New
York Turn Verein's school, though very good
AZ examples abound in the st. Louis and New
Haven exhibits. Some remarkably fine detail
z drawings of machinery furnished by Wor-
caster pupils, and from half dozen places come
examples OF wood work-scrol1 saving mortise
and tenon dove-tailing, paneling and furniture
8 making. The pupils Of the Womans Institute
Technical Design show some fine designs for
wall paper aud carpets OF course there is sew
.ng. and embroiderinc, and stamped leather
work, and plated mats by the wee tots of four
or FIVE years in the kndergartens.
The greatest interest of course centers in the
Philadelphia exhibit, for that city has avowedly
introduced industrial training in all its public
schools and is Justly proud of the results attained
The Philadelphia section is the largest and
finest, and next to 1t in point OF size is that of
Chicago. though III quality neither Surpass those
of the Now England cities In all the work shown
there is, of course. good deal which is any
ching but practical, and some that indicates a
waste of time that causes the judieous to grieve.
! But, considering how short is the time during
which anything of the kind has been done in the
country misdirected effort is by no means SO
common as one might reasonably expect. There
= Is evidence in some cases of bad or inadequate
instruction. for which the children are, of course
rot to blame. But it is obviously unfair to crit
icise such an exhibition as if it were the work of
Rdu!ts or of trained artisans. With all its faults
and it would be a shame to turn the microscope
npon them-the exhibition is wonderful one, in
many respects the most important and instruct
I've of the season.
The first. view" on Tuesday evening had bad
weather to contend with, but the hall was full OF
people Many of the society ladies of New York
Mrs. CORTLAND Palmer, Mrs. Levi Morton,
MRS. William Allen Butler, Mrs. j. Pierrepont
fMorgaE, Miss Cooper, Mrs Morris K. Jesup, and
= 5thers equally prominent-have interested them
lelyes in the enterprise, and it was set under
9 way with great eclat. Bishop Potter and any
Aumber Of school commissioners and superin
tendents were present and the society element
was we'll represented shouldn't be much sur
prised if this exhibition to result in a de-
cided bloom" for industrial education in public
schools everywhere. II will certainly great,
! interest and instruct all who have the good for
tune to see it. JOHN L. HEAToN.