The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-25
Gtp Intelligence;
oaos' Nos. as aud 81 Fourteenth Street,
EUROPEAN TRADE sCHOOLs.

where hsV Fall to Make People COntsntSd
u Do Not EaFiCh Them.
Aarpa's NdgG=hk,
The most valuable feature Of manual
training-its mental and moral influence
-iS very imperleCtly understood in this
country, and not at all in Europe, except
in Russia, II indeed 1t be there, where the
laboratory method OF instruction in the
mechanic arts which bears the Russian
name originated. The trade schools OF
germany, France aud England grew out
OF industrial rivalries. They are the pro-
duct oil o struggle for commercial, mer.
camille aud manufacturing supremacy,
lhey have thsir root in the merchant's
GRIM law oil neCsssity-the necessity OF
l~ndeTselling his rival. Their purpose,
Tor example, in France, Ia to make q dol!
Tor q cent less than it can be made in Ger.
many, and in Germany to make q pen
kniie for q cent less than it can be made
IN france; and they have the sanction
and support Of government, because thoy
increase the tax-paying capacity OF the
subject In the exact ratio OF the increase
Of his productive power.
The trade school il the vestibule oil a
factory or shop, and the trade-sChool pupil
IS an apprentice-an apprentice OF the old
regime, but still an apprentice. He be-
comes cog, q wheel, 3 plnlon, q lever, or
a shalt in u GnaChino adapted to certain
productive processes. And the more ell.
cient h. Is as part Of the machine, the less
power he has to determine the share he
shall receive Of its products, and the less
capacity wisely to dispose Of the fruits Of
his labor.
Germany has more trade schools than
any country in the world, but her people
are thereby neither enriched nor made
G%nntented. Every year large numbers OF
her labor class bid Adieu to the father.l land
and flock 10 these shores, and the drain Of
the flower OF the labor class Of q pOpulA.
ton is an irrepaable loss Of national vi.
lIe trade school at its best is a special
school which does not aim to give q gen.
srsl school education. 1t is hence ont
sided. In establishing or aiding 1t the
state places upon its graduates the brand
Of inieriority, since II reserves for the uni
verEities and other institutions Of learning
It's highest honoTs.
The trade schools Of Europe are perpet.
q system OF caste in education
which it is the chief mission OF the civil
izntion OF this age to destroy. They grad
uate carpenters, blaCksmitbs and turner's,
but they fail to equip men for an equal
in the battle OF life. In Holland
here Is a Government commission whose
duty 1t is to procure situations for the
graduates Of trade schools, and to watch
over them for several years." The gradu.
ates OF properly organized and conducted
trade schools witt create situations iol
themselves, and show by tho ability and
iathiulness with which they discharge
duties there that they require nc
watching,
1here 10 q disposition in this county,
IN some quarters, to initiate the European
OF trade schools. Professor Rob.
ert Ii. ThuI6ton, Of Cornell University,
recommends (l) drawing ard the modlh
cAtion OF methods Of instruction in tht
direction Of the sciences in existiug
~ the institution OF special
Of instruction, and the foundation
Of trade schools, "haviog for their object
teaching Of the principles and the
practice Of the leading industries in local
tiles III which such action would DO JUST.
lied;" and (S) the creation ci one or more
technical colleges.