The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-21
EDUCATED HANDS,

John Jarrett Gives Technical Education n
LuSty Boost-A Practical Mans Talk.
Pitlsburgh Dispatch.
A mechanical drawing class was i'd.
dressed last evening in University hall,
Sixth street, by Mr., John Jarrett on the
subject Of practical education, and in
the course Of his remarks some very in
teresting facts were developed in regard
to prospective technical education in
Pittsburgh. He said, in substance:
When / look around here at your tools
and the careful hands guided by tue
steady eye Of youth, my heart is de-
lighted. The great desideratum Of edu.
cation is technical education, and need
not to explain further than to say that
technical education Is necessary to fill
up the gap left by our modern education
in the arts and sciences,
myself did not get even q common
school education, leaving school as did
when II years old. I became puddler,
and performed this labor for many years,
when l finally became little more am
bilious, and went to work learning
something technical about my trade.
No sooner had done this than l found
demand for my services from many chan
nels, OF which l had hitherto never
thought, and my increased knowledge
advanced me not only in my own esti-
nation, but in the estimation OF my
fellows.
There aremany puddlers to-day in this
city who know almost nothing technical
Of tho process OF pudding. Ask them
what has taken place as they throw the
pigs OF iron in the flame, and then pud-
die the molten metal, and they cannot
tell you. Is II, then any wonder that
they are disconnected with their lot; dis
contented because they work without
any interest in what they are doing2 Is
1t any wonder that they are always look
ing forward for an indefinite something
what they know not2 The very tools
you use teach the eye and give you a
steady hand, and as you learn, you grad
ually come to understand your work by
means OF this education, and become
more interested in consequence.
II is not necessary TO state why the re-
uuirements Of the day demand technical
education, for, as machinery takes the
place OF manual labor, the mind is called
In to help the physical forces. In chem
istry there are but few men who are
yersed. / maintain that we all should
know more or less about this science.
There Is no reason why we should be
dependent upon one man, but every
reason why everybody should have
technical knowledge on the subject.
Compare the textile industries Of this
country and Europe, and you will find
that here tho workman Is familiar with
only ono branch OF his calling, aud when
he receives q thorough knowledge Of all
the branches you make him master OF
the situation. And when you educate
yourselves thus, you are masters OF the
situation.
And where should a technical school
be established, II not in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, the greatest manufacturing
center, not only OF this country, but OF
the world2 And then, instead Of you
Young men looking for q situation, the
situation will be looking for you, for In
this case, tho rule Of the survival Of the
iittest will certainly be applied, and
those who arc not up To your standard
must take back seat.
While our great labor leaders talk Of
education for the masses, ! believe not
only in II, but also In technical educa.
ton for them-one which will give a full
and roundabout training. Men who
have this training are needed TO iii high
and responsible positions, and there Is
no doubt that Pittsburgh should have q
technical school beatting her size.
/ might say that | have mentioned tho
project Of establishing q technical school
here, and have had the assurance that
Al. 600 900 could easily be raised, as the
Idea would End many interested patrons
here, and I intend 70 do all ! can to
further the project.