Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-08-09

mer, saw, drawing board, and lathe are
to the mass of BOYS what Greek roots
and Latin verbs are to the selected few.
All arc tools with which they are expect
ed to work their way To further know
ledge. And, if the community gives the
necessary primary and secondary train
ing 10 the small class, it certainly may
and should do so to the larger one.
The beneficial effects of the practical
training were brought out in the report
OF the President of Girard College at the
anniversary celebration in Philadelphia
the other day. In the will of the foun-
der of the institution it was provided that
the scholars should be bound out, at
graduation, ''to suitable occupations, as
those of agriculture, navigation, arts,
mechanical trades, and manufactures,
according to the capacities and acquire
ments OF the scholars respectively, con-
sulting, as far as prudence shall justify
1t, the incdnations of the several scholars
as to the occupation, art, or trade to be
learned. For time the officers of the
college Were able to procure places for
the boys where they might extend their
education according to this wise pro-
vision. But the gradual decay of the
apprenticeship system soon made this
impossible and the trustees were obliged
to keep the boys until they were Is, and
then cancel their indentures. A short
time ago, however, the trustees decided
to establish a Misunderstanding school in
connection with the college, and the
fund at their disposal enabled them to
carry oct the plan with an ample equip
ment The boys are now taught the
use of tools" says the Philadelphia
Record, land are given instruction in
the mechanic arts of a character which
cannot be eXcelled in any workshop.
As q result of This wise measure, the de-
mand on the trustees for apprentices eX-
ceeds the supply. Being skilled in the
use of tools, and with their natural apti-
tude for work discovered and developed,
they are ready to begin at once to learn
an art or trade without the preliminary
loss OF time and waste of material in
yolved in trying To instruct youth who
know nothing whatever about the work
they undertake to do. A knowledge of
the hight OF mountains in South Amer
lea, or the length of rivers in Africa, or
facility in solving the useless prize puz-
zes OF grammar and arithmetic is of
small practical use when a boy sets out
to do things that require trained hand
and eye, sound judgment. and know
ledge Of material things among which
his life is to be spent
A healthful tendency. which is the
direct result of this training. was also
noted by President Fetterolf Ca very APP
propriate name, by the way, for one who
is engaged in liberating education from
the letters of radition). He said that
whereas formerly the boys preferred
clerkships and other light occupations
TO arts or trades, which they could only
learn ut 4 great disadvantage. since the
establishment of the technical school
there has been a reversal of the former
order of things, and the boys are glad
to learn something which will give them
start in some one of the great produc-
ing industries of the country. Their
preliminary training secures for them a
preference for employment. 1t is time
that manual training should be made
part of our common school education.-
Boston Herald