Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-21
Technical Educatios.
% the Editor of The Dspatch

L
Dear SIr.-Mav I be permitted 70 add a
word in favor OF the idea ventilsted IN yonr
! columns by one or two correspondents
during the past week-viz., that Of so aiding
the Mechanics Institute as to fit 1t tor takin z
I'D eGeciually the question Of technical train
| ing for the Young. On the question Of bow
| this 10 TO be done l do not propose 10 .ay
ANYTHING, rs there RTe 50 MANY better ac-
| quaiuted with the local opportunities and
| financial facilities than I can possibly be-,
| but on the necessity for the work being done
| and the advantages 10 be derived from dong
| II think perhaps ! can add some poihts ~
interest The first movement IN the dl-ec-
ton OF technical tea hing sprung up
In Germany. and 1t was the elective
ness OF this teaching which brought
home 20 Englishmen the absolute neccs-
sitY for steps TO be taken IN England
| 10 supply the same assistance 10 the young
men OF the country II she was 10 MAINTAIN
her position in the manufactures and arts,
and the pressure Of Continental and English
technical training now compels this country
10 move in the same direction II she is 10
keep In the forefront At The time OF the
first great exhibition in England, w 1871.
English pre-smuence In manufactures and
arts was unQucstiOned, but the shreWd and
perseyeriDg Germans At once took steps 10
establish technical schools throughout their
country, and the effect Was seen al the next
great exhibition in London, In 1862, when
English pre-eminenCe was assal!cd, ana
the manufacturers saw that unless some
thing was done % train the youth
OF the country she would have 10 yield
the FIRST place in the race TO Germany aud
France, or be compelled 70 rely on those
countries for the skilled labor necessary to
enable England 10 maintain the position. AZ
feet On enormous number OF trained and
skilled youths came over to England from
Germany aud France and found profitable
employment in the arts and mauuIacturrS OF
the country, and the same process Il now
gong on here. The steps taken IN England
were TO convert the mechanics institutes
into technical schools. The reasons FOR tie r
existence as primary schools had ceased in
consequence Of the introduction OF the pub
lie primary schools, which, IN conjunction
with the application OF the compulsory and
indirect compulsory clauses OF tie education
acts. had resulted in all the children OF the
country being taught the rndimcnts OF
good education. The mechanics institutes
were enlarged and provided with good
workshops and tools, and with good
art studios aud galleries, and the young
men IN the classes instead OF learning
merely the theory Of work and nrt were
actually put to the practice OF that branch
OF industry 10 which they intended 10 apply
themselves for their future livelihood. The
result is now seen daily, both in England
and here, As hundreds Of young men train
ed in these schools have succeeded m OBJ
tanning good situations "a managers OF mills,
mechanics, shops, and engineering WORKS,
and their influence is seen in the higher and
cfa ct Z.
Now why snOuld not Richmond make
move in this direction. | an sure 1t VIII
paw her to do sol The primary schools Of
the State anC city secure the opportunity Tor
a good education to every cnild-an oppOriu-
nitv which, perhaps, would be more fully em-
braced il compulsory attendance vas re-
Guired or, II this be disliked, then by indl-
rect cOmpusion applied In the form OF tue
requirement OF q certificate Of q certain
attainment o. knowledge before being able
10 obtain employment, and il these schools
we're supplemented by the conversion Of the
Mechanics Institute into n good technical
school, with galleries and shops Tor work and
tools 10 work With and ag0Od staf OF practical
teachers 10 explain and leach not only ihsoIy
but practlce-thcn / DO not doubt but the
Young men OF the State would be equipped
with knowledge which would enable them
RI once ~ OUtilu Il tiffttHNbNs va ih'
Young man who can only read and write and
DO clerical work or manual labor there IS
only one employer to he found here aud
there-such labor is only too abundant
but for the young man who has
framed Intellect and skilled hand
there are many masters, and the rewards OF
such labor and skill are great. GIVE. then,
the young men Of this city and state a
chance Of obtaining these rewards by train
ing them in technical sSill. aud thus prevent
the good openings being seized by the young
men from Europe, who now and for many
years have bad the opportunities OF skilled
Teaching. From what | know o. The Me-
chanics' Institute | am satisfied that IL Il were
given the aid IL needs IL would attempt to
do the work required, and / think success
fully. DO not let Il lack tue aid. Tue young
men are waiting and The state needs their
services TO build no and push her on the way
to prosperity. Yours truly,
= JlCRgOS