The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-08-19
TEACHING FOR HANDS AS WELL AS
HEADS.

During the last thirty days all the
colleges, high schools and other ad
Vanced institutions OF learning have
held their cOmmencements, and thrust
their graduates out upon the world.
The number of these young persons
probably reaches tens of thousands, but
of them all perhaps not two per cent.
have learned how to do anything. The
education has been Of the head alone,
and not at all of the hand. They have
been taught to know great many
things of greater OF less Importance,
but of the practical work of the world,
by means of which men and women
earn their bread and butter, they are
absolutely ignorant. Much Of what the
schools impart is certainly useful, and
the least important of 1t may have some
value; but It is fairly subject Of COM
plant against the system of education
In use In this country that it is too COM
pletely theoretical.
~ The injurious consequences of this
fault appear In several forms. As the
country grows in6u trlally the demand
for skilled wOrkmen increases. In the
presence of this demand we have. first,
the fact that the old and excellent an.
prentice system has fallen completely
into disuse, and, second, the further
fact that the modern trades unions are
hostile to apprenticeship In any COM
prehensive form, new or old. 1t Is not
the least of the counts against the
unions that they stand resolutely In the
way of young Americans who wish to
acquire knowledge of any craft As
consequence we import from Europe
every year thousands of skilled work
men, while our own young people are
driven into poorly paid clerkskiDs or
persuaded to attempt success Ia the
Overcrowded professions 1t Is extremely
discreditable TO the practical common
sense Of the American people that they
should permit thia state of things so
long to continue. 1t is reflection upon
the good judgment of the nation that
II should expend millions every year
upon instruction which only half fits
the young for the actual duties of life.
Another and very serious consequence
Of this neglect OF mechanical training
Is that 1t fosters the impression, already
too widely prevalent, that mechanical
labor should involve social and other
discredit. Not only Is this theory IN
uemOCrAtlc, anu III pOllblchl b6n6b uhu-
ger0us, but 1t is directly opposed to the
best material interests of individuals
and Of the whole community. / ia re-
publican and industrial country like
ours 1t ought to be that the most expert
handicraftsman is the most honored.
This Is not q land for loafers. 1t is, In
an exceptional and unique sense, the
country OF workers; and there can be
no duty more truly patriotic than to in
still into the minds of American young
men that man VINO works at q me-
chsnical trade with a strong arm and
hard fist, a. d works dexterously, should
have more respect than lawyer who
can hardly shuffle along In his profess
sion, or doctor who feeds graveyards.. ).
That lesson, as our readers we'll know,
has yet to be learned here. The preju-
die against the horny handed toiler ex
--is;s; but 1t ought not to exist, and when
ane schools and colleges do their duty 1t
Nwill cease to exist.
We would put into every public school
q course OF mechanical instruction.