The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-07
MUST HAVE THAT SCHOOL,
The Committee's Reason for
Wanting the Wilmerding
Institute.
San Francisco Already Has Two
Mechanical Schools and Oak
land None.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
Q08 Broadway Sant

$40 broadway, sept. b.
The committee of citizens who are solicit
ing subscriptions to purchase a site to
offer the university regents for the Will
merding School have issued the following
address to the public:
A city grows and becomes celebrated be-
cause OF the foresight of its citizens as often as
it does on account of its natural advantages.
The quick recognition of the factors that will
add to Its attractiveness and a readiness to
make an investment which the future will
justify are proofs both of business sense and
local pride. Now, what is the situation in con-
nection with the site OF the Wilmerding
School?
First, what is the aim of the school? Much
has in recent years been said and written
about manual training. The public generally
has an idea that it furnishes a boy with ability
to use his hands in connection with his brain I;
better for the battle of life; that it will
DISPOSE his mind to view manual labor
as honorable and that it will counterfeit the
disposition OF capable young men to enter the
professions. Yet manual training, while it has
this as its object, does not, we observe it.,
equip boy with trade. 1t acauaints him
with the use of tools in q limited way. The
object of the Wilmerding school is to give a
boy trade that he may be able to earn liv-
ing.
It is clearly utilitarian. It enables young
man to say, ''This l can do, and do thor
oughly." The result in the years to come will
be to raise the general level of self-helpfulness
and thus give the State better citizen be-
cause it produces more capable man. Such O
school is a need of the times. Philanthr opy
can do no better work than to establish one or
more in every considerable city. Oakland has
ucational system, thus adding to her attrac-
tons the security of property, in short, her
glory.
San Francisco has two schools now that are
working in the same direction, the Lick School
OF Mechanical Arts and the CogsweH School
In addition, she is doing much in the line of
manual training in her public schools, such as
carving, cooking, sewing, etc. On this side we
have 10000 people within reach by streetcar
lines. In ten years we will have 125, 900 or
more This population ought to have such
school. San Francisco is now engaged in fur
nishing site for the affiliated colleges. This
enhances our chances, but may add to our
shame II we fail by supineness. It also helps
the Berkeley people, whose wealthy and sa-
gacious fellow-citizen makes a magnificent
offer for the prize. If he succeeds it will be
because of the indifference of our wellto-do
! class, or the fond dream that everything this
side OF the bay is Oakland
Ihe school ought to be in this city, located
| where the Door boys can reach it at the least
possible expense. Its name, work and fame
should De linked with Oakland. 1t should be
at once an expression of our wisdom, our
! prloe, our spirit as a progressive people. Sub
scrlptlons should not be limited. No large
amount should be considered undesirable, no
subscription too small to be overlooked. If
five OF our citizens are willing to give q thou
saao dollars each, SO much the better.
| OnAAdtio olOulu nave Inc SclOOl. Sle snail
have 1t II the proffer of site will secure it
should be the cry of our people 1t will pay
| dollar for dollar
Inc sight OF hundreds of boys hurrying along
our streets to such school will give profound
satisfaction 10 those who believe in manhood
more than in mere money
The committee ought not to be obliged to
canvass LOT SUBSCRIPTIONS. A couple score of
such letters as Mrs. Howard wrote should ap-
pear IN the papers, and the question of funds
be settled in week.
vii Cat,
the Mayors Office. A score or more of our most
prominent citizens should attend that meeting
to help in whatever way they can. In week
more the opportunity may have escaped us.