Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-30

Sraak Cih sFsesfzfly fisids - the
Hoses 81 Lagls.


soFse 81 Logis.
Yesterday, Ar. Frank Gill, Organizer
Of the Central Labor Union, was talk
!ng With another man about the pro-
posed manual training scnool for ah-ch
the Board OF Education l. asked by the
Board or Trade. TO devote i've per cent
OF the school fund during the coming
year. Mr.. Gill, sad his companion,
II understand that the trades UNION
| lets object - the IDEA OF establishing
a manual training school" Most as
s0redly We DO" replied Mr.. Gill. 1.-The
capitalist has destroyed the apprentice
system, and nos he wants the laborin
man to pay takes 10 supply instructor.
at pubic expense for more cheap help.
We are never n favor OF any move that
Will sFoylde a school that can he used
by tie children of the wealthIci
classes and not by the children
or the laooIlng men. The latter are
generally obliged 10 leave school az
from Ia 10 10 years OF age and can't
stay az can the children of wealthier
parents. until they are % or 81. IL
would be supplying competition IN
held where there Is already an over
supply"
But Mr.. Gill, you evidence in your
remarks" continued the other, "a mis-
conception ot the intention of those
who favor manual training school.
The plan IS simply this. In our system
OF education there Is plenty OF mental
training, bat there is no method pro-
vlded Tor the education of the eye aud
hand. The engineering schools such as
exist at Ann Arbor, Boston, &C, do
not show what We want In manual
training school on the same general
plan.
Part of the Common School Course.
sin the first place II is not designed to
teach trades. In the second place 1t Is
part OF the common school course
| from the very lowest grades. IL Is
| part which all pupils, rich or poor, are
! required To take. Ii involves no addi-
| tonal expense. IL tends TO DO away
with the idea that work IS dishonor-
able. Ii does not go TO the extent of
| teaching trades and thus providing
competition, but merely gives educa-
| ton IN general lines, adding q know
ledge OF mechanical principles TO the
| ordinary book learning. 1t adds the
| education OF the hand and eye to that
| OF the BRAIN, thus making more prac-
teal pupils"
We'll. If that is the idea, | can see
no objection To IL. But II 1t is not n
| part OF the common school system open
to al If 1t even approaches in any way
school for any class or which any
class can have instruction IN while
Others can not, | am opposed to 1t, and
We will work at the polls to defeat men
who favor it. We have only the word of
those whom we fear to trust, however,
that the plan is as you say. The right
way Is To judge OF its results by seeing
what has been done when such schools
have been in use. II it is as you say,
/ must confess that there has been a
misunderstanding of it among most
workngmen. We would favor educa-
ton for all alike at public expense.
Special advanced education should he
paid for by those who get it, even in
high schools and our university. We
don't want trades taughtIn schoolsb but If
the manual training idea is merely sup
| plying a lacking element in common
school education It's all well and good.
| If We can be convinced that that alone
Will be done We would favor it, am
quite sure.'