Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-05
MANUAL TRAINING URGED.
Hon. j. I. NJ. Curry Makes m Address 70
tile Members Of the Legisiatnre.


tie Members Of the Legisiatnre.
In compliance with joint resolution OF
the General Assembly, Hon. :; L; NJ CurIy
addressed that body IN the Hau OF ,ne
House of Delegates last night. besldes
members of the Legislature there were
present: Hon. John T. Massey, Attorney
General Scott. Rev. Mr.. Turnbull, Rev.
DIR. Thomas. Rev. A. +. Dickinson, Hon. J.
TAYLOR Ellyson: Professor Smith. presi-
dent OF Randolph-Macon College; Rev.
DIR. Cooper, and many ladies.
The meeting was called TO order by Lieu.
tenant Governor J. Hoge Tyler, who stated
that Hon. John Y. Massey. as Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, would In
Mr.. Massey said that DR.. Curry needed ne,
introduction, particularly TO kichmona
audience. He had served IN many hien
positions. in which his great services were
signal service than in his present position.
BE (Mr. Massey took advantage, OF TINS
occasion to thank publicly DR.. Curry TOR
what he had done for education In VIZ
pipia. He would present. not INTRODUCES,
To the audience the general agent OF the
Peabody Education Fund.
pR. cuRRY's REMARKS.
DIR. Curry spoke for over an hour and
was listened to with the deepest attention.
He began by referring 10 the character Oh an
audience of Legislators, who nhu nced 70 az
quaint themselves with the need5 and caPao,,.
ties OF the country. Not many years since, no
said. occurred a revolution 10 which history az
fords no paraliel. Our men and women have
phown remarkable fortitnde anG courage IN con-
fronting tho dangers and adapting themselves
not. as vet, brought prosperity 20 tho South.
The rose-coiored views SO often presented were
creations Of strong inaginations. Agriculture
was fearfully depressed, ana oui stapie crop " "
cotton was not remuneratiye. The increase OF
wealth In this department OF business has noI
been one tenth what Is has been In others. lnis
depression might In part, he amrined Dc tracea
10 educational causes and largely 10 unsAiiou
labor.
II was fortunate, he continued, that In our
State there had been improvement IN trucking
fruit-growing, cattle-raising, III mihihg, manu-
featuring, and growth OF towns ana raiiroans.
This last agency, producing wealth. cheapenins
transportation, should be. he thought, guarded
against mischievous legislation. Virginia abound
ed iu mineral resources and merchantable TIM
Der, and here was our most hopeful outlook.
NECESSARY CONDITION.
necessary condition OF holding our own In
the strugge for the prizes OF life Was skfted faDor
An entomologist had estimated me oestrucNon o,
by the ravages OF insects. lnteingeht epphca'
ton OF science 10 practical liie anu 70 larinlns
interests would stop many leakages ana add
much to the production. .,,s
make amends for want OF mines, fertile lands
and forests, by taking hold on the world through
the children in the schools, ana sne ulu So anu
hence her power and innnence III ,i,sn.i,,a
trade manufactures, politics, science. literature
She had. said DR.. Curry, done more Tor schoois
than any state in the Union.
Virginia had done nObly In her free schools
resumed the Doctor, but she had need tor longer
haf faacnfTl.
institutions meant equality OF opportunity and
the supremacy on man over the accidents OF Dlrtl
or fortune, and every citizen had tne rlght tc
the most vigorous development OF Which ne Wet
capabIe In nothing has there been more pro
eress than in the art of teaching, ana peopie
who were taxed for schools were entitled 10 the
nrompt adoption Of whatever might Dc necessary
10 secure the best.
QUALIFICATION FOR LICENSE.
License 70 teach should be given only TO those
who had passed satisfactory examination. ~
was a crime TO put a child in its first years In the
hands OF an incompetent teacher. The waste
OF time In our schools was enormous. The ave
rage time gained in German schools over our
was about three years, but every uerihan teacn
err for private as well as for public schools, must
have had three or four years training IN a nor
NAL school.
DIR. Curry urged the support and improvement
OF normal schools and teachers institutions, and
tho incorporation OF manual training as an on
Ranic pert OF the pubiic-sch0ol system. The las
part OF the address was an appeal 70 fnginiaht
by all the motives and influences that come IRON
cur honored ancestry. II was singular, said Dr
Curry, what a hold little Ruth Cleveland had or
the hearts o. tho American people. Ii was be.
cause she was the representative OF father ol
loftiest patriotstn, OF unsuliied Official integrity
OF courageous convictions, OF devotion 10 ths
Constitution. SO here, In our state, were the dc
scendants Of the immortal WORTHLESS, and upof
these children we are % rely for what viii make
Virginia great and prosperous. Jefferson sale
II We educate the children aright, our descend
ants would be Wiser than we, and many thingt
impossible to US would be easy 10 them.
Mr.. MASSEY SPEAKS AGAIN.
At the conclusion Of DR.. Curry's remark!
Mr.. Massey said if tho speaker had not
been interrupted by bursts of applause II
was because the audience were absorbed
in his remarks. Then. addressing tn,
Chair more directly, esaid: when Ihat
a seat in this House felt honored. Wher
| afterwards occupied the position. you dC
now felt that had gone up higher, bu
! felt that | mounted still higher when
was given charge of the great educatlona
interests in the State.
IF | shall succeed in discharging thu
trust in manner commensurate with IT
responsibilities the sum OF my ambition
shall have been attained"
Mr.. Loyensteip, chairman OF the Senate
Committee on Pubic Institutions ant
Education. offered aresolution. which wa
unanimously adopted, thanking Dr. Curr'
for his able, beautiful, and instructive ad
dress, and the meeting adjourned.