San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-09

But, again, the state uses the pro-
perty OF the citizens for carrying
on the government thereof tax
ing them the necessary monies
for keeping in running order the
machinery Of the state. II the
education of the masses in the USE
full arts OF life is an economical
method Of keeping down the run
ming expenses Of the state, then Is
it the duty of the state to employ
this agency. Not only so, ignor.
ance is the foe of liberal institu
tions, and on this account educa-
ton is demanded at the hands Of
the state. This is granted as to
mental training, and denied as to
manual training. That is, the
state endows the citizen as he
grows up with the power arising
from mental training, and denies
him instruction in the art Of put
ting his power to use. The hand
work Of the world requires more
men and woman to do it than the
80 called head work. The right Of
this majority to look to the state
for the instruction necessary to fit
them for that work is unques-
toned. 1t is inseparable from the
idea Of government Of the people,
for the people. The taxes levied
on the people, by the people, for
the service Of the people, cannot
be put to a more legitimate use
than in putting into the hands Of
the people the means Of providing
for their own sustenance and pay
ing their share Of the general
taxes. II the state refuses to do
this it has denied its own RESPONSE
bilities to the children OF the peo-
pie, from whom 1t derives its pow
er and means Of conducting the
operations OF government. This
population of the government, If
continued, will lead to repudia-
ton by the people of the claims
of tho government. 1t is revolu-
tionary. The state must do its
duty.
Fourth-The state not making
such provision San Antonio should
provide an industrial school for
her girls and boys.
The Agricultural and Mechani-
cal college established in this state
is movement in the right direc-
ton. 1t is not available, however,
for more than a very small PEI
cent of the children. The. first
movement in the direction of in
dustrial educationfor the masses,
must come in the cities of the larg.
er. slassyshore there are resources
to drS% upon for its proper equip
me1t. This is the movement that
S already begun in several cities
OF this continent. 1t should be
begun in San Antonio. There is
room for such a school here. 1t
should be practical. In it there
should be practical instruction in
all the domestic arts. Painters, car
penters, machinists, workers in all
kinds ofwoods and metals, who are
competent to instruct, should be
employed to teach those who mu ST
depend on some of these arts for
their living. A school farm, also,
in which agricultural instruction
should be given. In these the
natural bent Of the child for some
particular handicraft would de.
velop, and after that education
should be along those lines. Spec
ial education, once the special
adaptation was manifested. How
far this work Of special industrial
education should be carried in any
particular case, would be a ques
ton for the practical educators
under whom the system would be
carried forward. The main thing
is to guide for the first few years
the industrical idea, the manual
bent, in such channels as to pre-
pare il for its best development
Out Of such a school the embryo
artisan will come sufficiently
equipped to be self supporting
while pursuing his craft educa
ton under more advanced condi
!, tions. Out OF such school he will
, come with an idea of the respect