The clarion., 1886-02-17
The Industrial College.

EDITOR CLARION: The sum of forty
thousand dollars was set aside by the Leg
islature Of 1884 for the erection of State
College for the white girls of Mississippi.
For this appropriation, supplemented by
the generous donation of the city OF CO.
lumbus, (so wis ly has the money been ex
pended), the State how has one of the best
institutions for the education of women,
to he found in the United States.
In the domestic department OF THE
school, girls are trained TO be neat and
thorough housekeepers, and the idea is
emphasized that work Ia honorable. All
must do some work, and girls who will not
work need not apply. This secures to us
women trained in the best methods of eco
nomical housekeeping, and since The State
itself is an aggregation OF homes, 1t Is easy
To see the connection between such educa-
tiou and the happiness and prosperity OF
our people. We need everywhere, all
over this country, revival OF the old
Roman idea, "LCcretia (the woman who
works. Is the most worthy"
The Normal Department OF this institu-
ton is intended to train teachers for the
public schools of our State. At the
last meeting of the State Teachers' As
sAclation, many OF our best educators
expressed the opinion that a lack of
trained teachers wa. q principal cause
of the deficiency of our public school
system Dr. Walden, the great educational
philanthropist of our State, remarked not
long before his death, that in many coun-
ties of the State, the colored free schools
we're better taught than the white free
schools, because many of the colored
teachers had been trained Tor the work in
the Normal Schools at Tougaloo and
Holly Springs. These schools receive
annual appropriations from the State, and
the wisdom OF their support is recognized
and applauded Ii is just as necessary
that white teachers should be trained for
their work, and since the white public
schools are largely taught by ladies the
wisdom Of sustaining the only State insti-
tuition which affords them this training is
apparent.
The Industrial College is not for the
favored few" il is 'for the white girls OF
Mississippi BY fair apportionment of
scholarships TO all the counties every girl
in Mississippi has an equal chance TO
attend this school, and the argument
| because the State cannot educate all she
should educate none," would destroy all
our State institutions. The Industrial
College is not for "the rieh," they can
educate their daughters without it, but
there are girls now attending the school,
who, but Tor that opportunity, must forever
| have gone without snch advantages And
| [ do assert that in this land OF oUrs, one OF
the most favored that Gods sun shines
upon, no man need say he is too poor TO
educate his daughter. What farmer if he
| be at all thrifty, but might raise colt
| and two helers every year, to pay his
daughters expenses at the Industrial Col
| ge? And when she has finished her
course there she can help to educate the
Younger children. A majority of the tax
payers Of this State are Intelligent, indus
lrious farmers, aud these men, through
their representative body, the State Grange,
have said that our two industrial schools
should be supported. The women of the
State paw taxes too, and il wonld be unjust
to them not to support most literally. this
institution which the State has given them
which all political parties have approved
and which the people by their patronage
have overwhelmingly endorsed. Some
men, know, think it waste OF money K
educate woman. but, that opinion does
not prevail in Mississippi. believe every
legislator whether ne wear silk hat or 4
wool hat, ii he have the heart of fsthe
| or a brother in his bosom, will favor
liberal appropriation for our State Indus
: trial College. Our Governor-one of th'
best we ever had--a iar-seeing, practical
Christian msn-commends the industr' a
College. and / have that faith in the mel
of Mississippi, that they will, to the ltmi
of the States ability, support all our edu
, cationsl institutions.