Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-22
As to Our CoIored Schools.

Conscientious investigation into the course
of study in the public schools of Washing
ton for colored pupils can hardly result in
any other conclusion than that there is
real demand for extension of the Industrial
features and perhaps for substitution of
industrial for the more advanced scholas-
tic work. 1t is therefore to be hoped that
some such investigatory legislation as that
proposed yesterday by Senator Mcmillan
VIII be enacted. 1t must be apparent to
any one who has ever given this important
subject any consideration that an educa-
ton which is mainly scholastic and but in
cidentally industrial is not the kind of edu-
cation most likely to benefit the thousands
of colored boys and girls who annually
leave our schools to engage in the struggle
Tor Independent existence This unoues-
TONED and unquestionable fact has not been
lost sight of by the school authorities for
the board of school trusteees has for three
years past recommended the appropriation
or $2jO,OOO with which to construct two
buildings to be devoted to manual training
Work; one building for white pupils the
other for colored children. This estimate
was in December last cut out by the Dis
iIct commissioners, so the present Con-
gress has not had any opportunity to pass
upon one OF the most meritorious and prac-
licaI educational propositions ever submit
ted to a legislature
II IS unquestionably the fact that the
tShdehcy In most American cities is at this
time toward what may not improperly he
termed oFer-education; the inclination Is
largely in the direction of learning which
iite u some extent valuable. is not likely
to De worth very much in the ordinary
everyday scramble for a livelihood This
unfortunate tendency is not, however co
evident in Washington as it is in MANY of
the other important centers of population
and yet there is more of IT here than a great
majority OF the people think there ought
. 10 be- With manual training in the grade
schools and with a highly successful Busi-
ness High School in satisfactory operation.
We have taken step in the right direc-
tion, but many changes will have taken
place before We come anywhere near the
Iatter-day idea. 1t is not saying too much
10 insist that large percentage of those
VINO graduate from the Colored High
School are really no better off because of
their experience in that institution for
they have learned only those Things which
caEnot. except very vaguely and Indirectly
De OF any use TO them along the lines of
endeavor which must be theirs through
life Perhaps it might even be insisted
that the time and energy devoted by MANY
OF those High School pupils to the acqusi-
ton of purely scholastic knowledge Is
simply wasted, for the reason that there
will not in many cases be even remote 3D.
portunity for making good use Of the edu-
cauonal refinement they have acquired
Provision should. of course, be made for
the scholastic Improvement of the compar-
atiYeIy few who desire what may for these
no bs. oil,
but that extremely small percentage should
not be favored at the cost of the many;
there should be ample provision for the
more practical instruction of the multi
tude, which, under the present system, Is
being taught a great deal 1t does not need
ard receives almost nothing of the variety
OF education for which it is hungry.
There is 10 necessity for the appoint
ment of special commission to consider
this matter. The board of school trustees
is quite capable OF doing all the investi-
eating that may be necessary, and. mas
much as it has already placed itself on
record as wholly favorable to extension of
the manual training idea. 1t may be de-
pended upon TO do everything in It's power
to further the cause of practical education
in the District of Columbia.