The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-17
DIR. J. L. M. CURRY'S ADDRESS.
lie Advocates Manual Training In The Pub
lie Schools.
A VERY LARGE CROWD In ATTENDANCE.
An Able Speech Before Both Bodies OF the
City CounciI-His Life Dedicated to
the Ministry of Education.

Inc two branches of the City Council held
joint called meeting last evening TO listen
TO an address by DR.. J. L. NJ. Curry, who had
been invited to enlighten the members of the
Council on manual training in public schools.
Notwithstanding the extremely hot evening
quite a large audience was in attendance
Besides the members of the Council, Mayor
Ellyson, Superintendent Fox Of the High
School, Rev. DR.. George Cooper, Rev. Dr.
W. w. Landrum, ID. o. Davis, Professor
Lewis j. Huff, Of the University of Vermont,
and many others were present.
After the reading of the call for the meeting,
President DickersOn. of the Board of Alder
men, appointed Messrs. Campbell. Stratton,
and Cary a committee 20 introduce DR.. Curry
10 the audience
Colonel Cary in few appropriate remarks
presented the speaker, and the latter delv-
cred very interesting address. which was
highly appreciated by an attentively listening
crowd.
DR.. Curry began his lecture with the state
ment that his life was dedicated to the minis
try of education, az could be seen from tho
fact that he was the agent Of the Peabody
and Slater funds. and the president of the
board of trustees of Richmond College He
spoke of the Importance of a universal educa-
ton in free public schools. irrespective of
The city offered already great many adj
yantages over other communities. With her
79S manufacturing establishments she gave
employment TO over 81 900 hands, employing
a capital invested from $4,000, 900 20 III 900,
600. This city was the distributing point for
the products OF the State. The Common
wealth of Virginia of course, was growing,
and while the people witnessed with great IN
terest the development of the southwestern
part of the State. they failed TO consider
what was being done in the East.
Dr. Curry referred 10 his recent visit TO
NewpOrtNews which contained the largest ship
building establishment in the United States
and the largest dry dock in this country. Tie
exports of that new city would soon comeup
TO those Of Philadelphia, for much 10 his sur
prise he had learned that the latter city during
the past year had only six and one-half or
seven times more goods exported than New
port News. What this State needed was the
facility of cheap and rapid transportation to
safe harbOr like Hampden Roads. which
could accommodate whole navy
The development in Newport News was the
result of a combination Of capital and labor.
and the man certainly was unwise who at
tempted by improper means to provoke OF
continue an sntagonism between these two es-
sential factors.
Labor was the basis of all wealth; lawyers,
physicians, ministers. teachers and other pro
fessiOns did not add to the prosperity OF a
community because they could not create
wealth.
The three essential factors in the develop
ment of q country we're production, dlstrlbu-
ton and consumption. The products were
created by labor while the value of mer-
chants, bankers, railroads and others made IT
self in the distribution OF the products
Another important thing was consumption.
II was matter of study what 10 buy and
how to buy, what 10 wear and how to wear IT,
what TO eat and how TO eat
In the line of industrial education" DR..
Curry continued "the United States are very
far behind Europe. where school education Is
supplemented by industrial education. The
trouble in this country is that the education
Is too exclusively literary and theoretical
Here the people are educated away from
the ranks OF labor instead Of being fitted for
labor. The boys and girls who graduate IN
the public schools Of this country are gener-
ally fit for no occupation under heaven; they
have no capacity, and nine out OF ten are
disnclined TO manual labor. When the boys
leave school they do not 90 into a manual Oc-
cupation, they are not equipped for II by their
environments they are all looking for clerk
ships or similar positions
In referring TO the last graduating class
from the High School in this city, Or.
Curry remarked that only sixteen boys gradu-
ated or Onc-tfth Of the whole mum er. The
school training is defective DR.. Curry con-
tinued 1t is too limited in scope. Every
school in this land ought TO begin with Kin
dergarteu school The intellectual studies
have mOnOpohzed everything, ut q new era
is on hand. and more attention should be paid
10 the industrial economies OF life.
This can be done III three different ways,
by technolomca schools, devoted TO the
teachings Of science and applying t. engineer
iug pr LESSONS by trade schools, " lch
abound IN Europe and are IN existence IN
some cities Of ,menca There the trades are
combined W o. general instruction 10 teach
boy or girl trade.
The third method was manual training in
cOrpONted III the pubhc-st h ,ol system sub
iect 10 the jurisdiction of the school and ItT
authorities. With the scholastic instruction
in the High School should be combined the
manual training of the pupis, to teach them
the rudments Of mechanics. TO give them
manual dexterity and TO tamlllarlze them with
tools and machinery
Dr. Curry ended his lecture with the state
ment that tue Introduction OF manual tram
ing in the public schools would cause only
very little additional expense and suggested
an inspect OF the system as II is IN opera
ton in Washington, Philadelphia and 81.
Louis.
On motion Of Mr. Turpin n profound vote
of thanks was rendered 10 Or. Curry.
Major StrattOn mo ed n al the committee
on schools be requested TO confer with Dr.
Curry on the subject lth the pc m ssl 10
report to either branch an ordinance recou-
mcnding an Appropriation 10 Introduce
manua. training in he public schools.
Tins motion WIS declared ont OF order 10y
President lck son for the reason that the
meeting adj only ueen called tor the purpose
OF listening to the address. On motion of
NJ. Stra,tOn the rules were suspended and
the Committee Il Schools wa, requested to
confer with Dr. Curry in reference 10 the in
PRODUCTION of manual labor IN the public
schools.