Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-07
Manual Training IN P"bi,c schools

:, communication prepared by DR.. ; ..
Moore. member OF the ocbool Do'rd OF
Inc civ Of Richmond. Read DeiOre the
Board October -, 1871
You are aware. gentlemen OF the school
Rco,d. tsat This Is 10y no means new
u.etI,od Of instruction which Is ABOUT TO be
.lcrt,d i'm various public schools OF the
f-nited states So impressed have | been
al thp importance OF manual training IN our
nm, nc schools that several years ago an eN.
i.ustiye paper was read 10 the City school
roord on this subject, and 50 yitil do con-
siGer il that laval myself OF The present OBJ
roltunity 10 again call the attention OF the
school Board to The subject.
have had the honor OF being connected
with The CITY School Board Tor several
wears. and know the system OF education
adoIted and prlcticcd in our public
schools. and with this knowledge ! am
more ard more convinced that manu1!
training in our schools is the method thar
should be adopted. II Is desirable 10 see
the workingmen Of our city educated, ana
thc attcmpt should be made TO Introduce
a system Of industrial training IN the pub
lie schools OF this city, by means OF which
fhe bows, while gaining substantial Eng
li.h education, may at the same time leiTn
the clements Of some M annual trade, winch
Will enable them to earn n living by the
work OF their hands. Such system as
This, il thoroughly perfected and carried
ont. will provide n class OF wOTkmen not
onlv qualified by education to assert ana
defend their rights, but qualified by COM
mon sense to know what those rights are
and how far they NAV be legitima'ely AS
serted without trampling upon the equally
sacred prerogatlycs Of their ndghbors.
The manual training OF children in pub
lie schools is not an untried experiment.
though il would be an innovation almost
startling in respect TO the results which
may follow in this city. II has been tried
IN Germany for years, with the best OF re-
suits, and IT has already been Introduced
IN the public schools Of Boston, Philddel-
phia. st. Louis, Chicago, and some other
American cities, with good promise OF
healthy result.
In consideration Of the ACCESSIBILITY OF
such departure as this, the question OF
exuense is one scarcely worthy OF attention.
To Introduce a system OF manual training
in the public schools would und )ubtedly
add to the cost q these institutions IN the
beginning, but il is questionable IL even the
money expended in this direction would
not in the end be returned. There are very
many scholars who now take the full course
with the idea Of becoming clerks who, II
they found themselves prepared with a
trade, or the rudimentS OF one, to grapplc
with the world, would be satisfied with q
fair working education, and would mol
complete the higher studies. The expense
Of carrying these through the one or two
additional years would be fairly credited t.
Tic cost Of the manual training, and il il
did not wipe out the difference altogether
would 90 far towards doing 80.
The state Board Of Education, In nv
opinion. should take this subject INTO con
sdcration. 1t is one deserving careful
study. NAV at some future lime present
nv views in reference 10 the training ol
urls. ;. L. MO0RE. VI. ID.