Omaha daily bee., 1891-12-27
INDU nan kDUCIrioN.


\ contemporary remarks that there is
no dispute that the number OF American
workingmcn trained in the knowledge
OF the highest industries is small COM
pared with the w"orkiugmen of those
countries OF Europe whose schools are
workshops for all who have an aptitude
for industrial and artistic pursuits.
Hence it comes that with all our educa-
ton and superiority it is neces-
sary to frequently invoke the aid
of foreign immigrants in indus
tries requiring n thorough technical
knowledge and training. Undoubtedly
every extensive employer will attest the
correctness Of this statement, and ii is
unquestionably true that by far the
greater part of the skilled labor in this
country is performed by men Of Europe
an birth. The advantages enjoyed by
the youth of Europe for acquiring an
industrial education are we'll known.
They begin to learn the industries in
the school, and after they have ac-
CURED all they can learn there they are
not confronted with the obstacles to com
pleting their education which meet and
often battle the efforts OF American boys.
The Industrial system in this country
long ago ceased to be favorable to teach
ing trades, and there is hardly II posi-
bility that the old conditions regarding
apprenticeship will ever be restored.
Perhaps it is not desirable that
it should be. But it is not
only desirable, it is absolutely
necessary that the youth of America be
given the largest possible opportunities
for industrial training, and that they be
encouraged in evory practicable way to
desire and seek such training. Tho
physical independence, the moral
growth, and the conservation Of the
manIiness and dignity Of American boys,
all essential prerequisites to Il genuine
patriotism, demand that greater atten-
ton be given to fitting them for indus
trial pursuits and enabling them TO at
tain the highest technical knowledge
and skill.
The trend of popular sentiment in this
direction has peel growing vigorously
during the last few years. The best
educators of the country nave been in
teresting themselves on the subject,
studying particularly the question of
how far the public schools can expedi-
emily be made to contribute to
industrial training. Practical men
have given the matter serious con-
sideration, and philanthropists have
given substantial aid to the solution of
the problem. There has just been
opened in Philadelphia an institution
dedicated to industrial education having
a capacity for 1000 pupils, the largest
and best equipped school o! the kind in
the country. More such institutions are
needed, and in time more will be pro-
vided, either by private liborality, or by
the people themselves, because the de-
mand for industrial education will have
to be met. Meanwhile there are the
public schools in which to make a be-
ginning, and there are few who now
question the wisdom or xpediency Of
utilizing them, within necessary limita-
tions, for this purpose. The expert
meut, so far as it has been tried, has
been entirely successful, and it is not
now a question of introducing Industrial
training into the schools, but sim
ply how far it should be car
ried in them. 1t being granted that for
an industrial. mechanical and artistic
people common school opportunities for
acquiring a knowledge of industries,
mechanics and arts are essential, the
question Of the bounds to be set Upon
such instruction in the schools of the
people need not present any great diff
culties.