The Wilmingtonian., 1886-07-31
TO MAKE GOOD MECHANICS.

| Inc DOafu OIL liuuOaulOn Oh Gne SlGy O
| New York has appointed committee Of ts
members among whom are some of the most
prominent business men of the metropolis to
inquire into the practibility of introducing
technical education in the public schools.
The committee is to make its report in Sep
tember or October next.
The New York Herald of the 22nd Inst,
says MIR. John Jasper, Superintendent of
Public Schools, is now in Europe studying
the question, and when he returns, as he is
expected to in September, the committee
will confer with him. The principal ques-
before the committee is whether to erect
new buildings for carrying on industrial ed
ucation or to introduce it in the present pub
lie school buildings. A suggestion has been
made to the committee that industrial educa-
tion should be carried on in separate build
iugs and that pupils should be sent from the
regular schools certain number of hours
each week to these industrial schools.
The committee it is understood, believes
that this revolution in the methods of teach
ing in the public schools must be introduced
gradually. It agrees as to its advisability,
but is not yet certain how to carry it into
effect. The end it hopes to attain is that
boys from ten to twelve years Of age shall in
addition to their regular studies, be taught
tho use of tools, working in wood, iron and
clay. Boys of twelve and more will con
time the same work in higher forms. No
particular trade will be taught to the boys,
but it is hoped that general knowledge of
of the use of tools will enable them to take
up any trade in comparatively short time.
As to the course to be pursued with regard
to girls, the committee is still in doubt. The
New York School of Cookery has made an
offer to provide teachers for the girls. Sew
ing is already taught in the schools
The time is Iipe for Delaware to take ac-
tion officially in this matter.
Private firms the Harlan & Hollingsworth
Co., and the Pusey & Jones Co., have al
ready "broken ice and demonstrated in
their very successful designing school of
last winter that our young citizens are pre-
pared aud anxious for this help to practical
education. In the columns of this journal
the question Of technical education has been
repeatedly broached.
Though the implication was somewhat
timorously made it was definitively argued
| in THE WILMINGToNIAN at the time of the
proposed erection of the High School that a
more lawful application of that fine struc-
ture would be for the teaching of the ele-
mentary parts of the various trades and me
| chanical business rather than its use as an
academy for instilling a further knowledge
| of Latin, German trgonometry and other
higher branches.
| 1t was claimed that the educational tax
was laid for the purpose of preparing the
passes Of Uncle Sans large brood Of young.
sters to be self-sustaining entities and not to
be charge upon the public at the time they
arrive at mans estate.
1t will not be denied in common eandor
that that was the intent of the school tax
fund and also the logical intention of the
term education as used in its general appli,
cation in enabling the masses to support
themselves.
On the other hand if there is any margin
of discretion as to the application of thi
public money by any trustees Of school fund
that discretion undoubtedly is misapplieC
when used to the advantage of the few o.
when it is demonstrated year after year tina
but the few, and very few too, are possible
of advantaging by such extra expenditure
to any practical extent. ..#
These are the results For the records o.
almost all communities in the country de
monstrato the remarkably small percentage
of High School graduates
If it be contended then that the school
fund may be applied in the sense as scque
to the teaching of the three RS, Reading
'riting and 'rithmCtic' which is the gener.
ally understood curriculum of Uncle Sans
schools, it surely is still, or aught to be, re-
stricted 70 the ready availability Of the
masses Of children those Of the poorer class.
es.
Under this idea archaeological teaching thai
of handicraftism as taught in quite a score O
the public schools of our sister states and in
England, France, and Germany, will be il
order.
II would perhaps be judicious as suggested
by the action of The Superintendent Of Pub
lie Schools in New York to commence i
gradually.
All that is needed however is the Initiation
of the idea. We claim success for such al
attempt from its commencement,
The young graduates Of such school a
| ~ .