The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-27
TRADE SCHOOLS NEEDED.


The Introduction of manual training
into the public schools of many cities
has done much to aid the development
of the youth of those cities. 1t has
been found upon applying the principles
of manual training that there are boys
and girls, young men and women, whose
intellects can be reached through the
hand better than through the mind alb
stractly; in other words. it has been dis
covered that there are very many boys
and girls whose minds are so intensely
practical that they find it impossible to
learn abstractly from books, but can
learn very rapidly from the concrete
subjects before them. The rapid extern
sion of manual training has been the
starting point for a larger and nobler
development of many a child who other
wise would have been discouraged from
study and turned away from the schools
because of dullness. They have every
reason to be thankful for it's introduce
ton
The fact that manual training has
been so successful in this direction en-
phasizes another need fully as great.
The great public school system of the
country, provided for by direct taxation,
bearing equally upon all. will educate
the younger element of population till it
reaches the age when it can pay it's
own way. Then comes the advantage
which the rich enjoy over the poor.
The rich can continue at school; the
poor must go to work. This is just as
true of girls as boys, and as true Of
the country as the city. There ought to
be something beyond the manual train
ing department. a trades school or col
lege, if the term may be applied. 1t
needs an advanced manual training
school where the practical trades can
be taught, where the taste developed
partially in the manual training depart
ment of the public schools can be Gull
tivated and trained until the young man
OF WOiIldn SoCS 1Oi III q BCiICCN tdlAS-
man.
The Pratt institute. the Armour in
stitute, the Drexel institute and the
Cooper institute are schools of this
class
But not only must the course of study
be such that it will enable the young
men and women to become expert work
men. it must also provide means for
their maintenance so that they will be
at no disadvantage as compared with
the wealthy There must be sufficient
endowment to permit of the support OF
these young men and women so they
can pursue their course of study unmo-
Tested and without poverty hindering
them from the fullest and freest devel-
opment. The gentlemen named above
have founded such Institutes. They
have done, in doing it, an inestimable
good to their cities and their kind. Their
influence will be everlasting and their
work will exist long after they are gone.
1t is infinitely better than building great
blocks to stand as trade marks of great
wealth. It Is the noblest charity in the
world.
Every city in the land ought to have
such an institute. and the man who
POUNDS it. or the men who are interested
in founding it, will confer more benefit
upon the human race than all the monks
of old, all the builders of great tombs
and costly monuments. Hospitals and
asylums are beneficial, but after all
there is something infinitely better and
more noble in providing something for
the benefit of living people than in
founding something for the unfortunate.
In a few years the class benefited by
the Institutes would assist in benefting
the unfortunates. The same result will
be reached. but by a different road.
Who are the men that will make a
move in every city of the land?