The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-12-17
IndustriaIEducatson.

work, either to succaed or fai.. filling some |
nook in this spacious world.
Many find fault with our system of education. !
and it is to be admitted that for practical uses
in liie professional people gain more from our |
schools than The wage earners. And a csosc !
observer will see there has been a tendency 10
look upon the trades ard agricultural pursuits
as drawback to society. while to the profess
sional world she throws open her doors. But
new is dawning, the wideawake. Intelligent
farmer. no longer willing to keep silent is
seeking for just and equal rights with his city
bro her. ray by day ne sees education is us
important to him as any other person. State
school Commissioner recently said: Il hope
the time is not far distant when education, to
the farmers boys and girls. will be as univer-
sal as in the town and cities.
Many gathered here today will remember
when, in our colleges. little or no attention WAS
paid to science except to obtain few princi-
pies from text books. The student who had en-
joyed collegiate course. with very lew eX
ceptions chose the professions in preference 10
the mechanical arts and agriculture.
Thinking men saw defects in such a system.
and il 1851 convention was called in Green
vilie III for the purpose of iuily discussing the
question OF an education grouAded upon letters
rather than upon science. Resolutions were
adopted In which to secure Tor the industrial
classes the same privileges as were bestowed
upon their professional Deignbor admitting 1t
VS. their own f~ult they uid not enjoy them.
following this, steps were taken to provide for
the establishment of university expressly to
meet the wants ot each and all the industrial
people the State. Other conventions were
neid, le CUES were formed, aLd petitions sent
w the Leg lstaLure anu to Congress The next
event We would observe the bill which be-
came law in 1865
The work mas still gone on and today practi
cal education is subject full OF interest TO the
public but echo the words OF al other in say
ing. all knowledge from boos comes indirect
ly." a flower may be beautiful. but it is nos
until we have looked into and studied carefully
It's parts from the object that lasting impress
Sion is left upon he mind a boy may read
pages Of geology and know very tie about it
unless he has examined the soil and rocAs. OBJ
serving something of their composition and
formation. When he has done this, a new light
seems to illuminate the subject, he becomes
filled with interest So in all science which
rightly taught brings man in close connection
with nature.'
The laboratory work of our colleges, and to
some degree used in the High Schools, the OBJ
are found TO be very helpful.
AS effort to supply the need of physical
training, some schools have system of calls
themes, while connected with most OF the col
leges and universities are found gymnasIums
military drills. but we must look to the agri-
CULTURAL and mechanical institutions for ex-
amples of industrial labor as a part of the
technical course.
At least one college in the U. S. offers a prac-
ticable education to girls. They are not only
made acquainted with very part of the kitchen,
but attend lectures. prepare essays and receive
careful training in every detail OF household
management. nor is the expansion of the men
tai forces neglected, for they are given the best
possible instruction in -science.- mathematics,
&c, and stand fairly abreast in thoroughness
and efficiency.
Is not the way in which the famous "Uncle
Toms Cabin" " was written, evidence that hands
ami mind may work together? How would
sons OF English peers have treated the subject
| of the trades few years ago? Yet today they
are engaging in all kinds of business pursuits.
In various parts of Europe. industrial insti
tutions have existed fer long time, but nc
| where have they attained SO high d Development
or SO thorough course of instruction as in Prus
| sia, Saxony, Bavaria and duchy of Nassau
which is said to be owing to the chemical and
mechanical skill and the discernment in the
| arts of design.
The life of Robert Burns proves farming die
not preVS Mt his obtaining an educ ttion and hi:
name becoming renowned. II was holding the
plow he lelt the inspiration OF some of hi.
| sweetest thoughts. What sympathy he ex
presses in the lines To Mouse,'' or how ht
clothes The Mount ain Daisy'' with life, which
met him in an unevil hour and is covered BY
the overturned Sod
An account is given Of a young man living II
New York who left the ranks of a fas hiona biz
| career. determined to study scientific farmi, G
which he did at an agricultural college in Eng
land. Coming home. armed with usefu
| knowledge and practical ideas. ready to hitct
| his learning and scie nee to the cart that they
| homeWard fro N the feld" E" might bring hin
twice the crop which ignorance and prejudice
draw. Nor did the prosec tions OF rural life
| lessen his graces ior the drawing room Ht
could still dance the German to admiration. Ii
Short he made farming profession. as Scc'y
| Rusk predicts farming will be to those WHIT
| snail reap the largest harvest.
The fam holds out broad field for practical
education. especially as the progress of civiIi-
| zation increases The boy is not only sur.
| rounded by Nature with the many lessons sht
tact with complex machinery. where he i.
taught ro stuuy the quickest methods OF worI
and choose inteligenrly from the abundance Of
lools such as will bsst serve his need iii.
| faculties CT observa ion are snarpened and made
| ready for use in other affairs o1 IiIe He forms
t4s te for reading the eevating class of Iitera-
ture. becomes interesting thinker and
when his voice may De heard il p-5ic, DOS
eesses as mucn power and does as grand a work
as though he were lawyer at the bar.
1t has reen suggested and adyocaLed that in
dustrial education should commerce at an eal ly
age, and in connection with our common
schools. under the supervision of the teacher
let there be work shop where the boys learn
tie use OF the saw. hammer, chisel and other
simple tools; kitchen garden for the girls
and space of ground for cultivation, the chill
dren doing all the work except the heavy part.
In the garden each pupil has his own spot OF
soil in which he Will plant the seeds OF his
choice, then watch and tend them something as
ne desires. Doubtless this would be iuyigor-
aling as not only change from mental toll
but various objects assume their shape and
the little plants unfold, they hold ou5 to the
young minds lessons of wisdom not found be-
tween the covers of text Dooks.
These busybodies would exclaim with Emer-
son, Inc WOIlQ Is an immense picture book Ol
very passage in human life," and agree. Ma
ture is a rag merchant who works up every
shred and ort and end into new creations -
Indeed if ary one were to follow Emerson
closely in his writings. there will be felt a
strong impression that no school is equal to
Natures teachings.
II is said, True science and true religion are
twin sisters" Is it not equally true that Ed
ucation of the hands and eye together with the
mind. is not only the human, but the divine
order of life.' Will the using of the hands not
have q discipline upon the intellect and emo
tions which will be dgnifying and ennobling,
making all kind of honest work honorable, and
help the aim of our public schools in fitting the
pupil for practical and useful life as citizen
ship2 Unless these exercises in handicraft
would be in themselves. truly, fairly and fully
educational. it is thought not to be entertain
ed.
The term industrial education in our conn
schools does not imply student is to be taugh
a trade any more than it makes boy doctort
or a girl an editor. But the exercises may be
the means of awakening genius in the me-