The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-28
ISDUsTEIALsCHOOLs ron NEGROES
The Lack of a Substitute for the Training
Under the Old Master and Mistress.

Inc Lack OF Substitute for the Training
Under the Old Master and Mistress.
! In Bishop Meadcs "Oid Churches and
| Old Families Of Virginia" he tells OF a
visit to Mount Vernon. where he was
| always cordially received. on an occasion
when he was taken at once to the pres
ence OF the first lady OF the land"
lie found General Washington's vile
busily occupied In domestic affairs Like
the model women In the Bible, she was
providing garments for her household.
surrounded By her handmaidens. Several
neauy-dressed and well-mannered colored
women were gathered around the mis-
trcss OF the large estate. cutting out, sew.
Ing, or knitting under her direction Tnis
was a scene repeated on every Southern
plantation. The lady of the house was
at the head OF an Industrial school tor
colorcd people.
The children Of the slaves were taken
into the masters house, often at very
early age, and thencefOrth the white fam
lily and the older servants constituted
corps OF instructors by which the young
colored people were trained TO usefulness.
This system OF education began when the
negr0e. were first brought from Africa,
and continued TO the end Of the civil war.
IL was thus that the savage was trained
as n slave. and prepared 10 become
citizen Of the republic. Few Of the teach
ers probably anticipated this result. They
builded better than they knew. which
has often been done in other regions than
the Southland.
10 was this training. not only in indus
trial arts, but in the gift and grace or
manners. acquired by the constant inter-
course OF the most polished and curl
waited OF the white race with their ser
wants that enabled so many OF the oman-
cipated people although destitute OF world
ly goods, TO enter upon their new condi-
ton equipped for the stern struggle be
fore them. The fact that our eX-slaves
have I'm one generation accumulated Wv
O00.O00 worth OF property IS proof or their
owners efficiency RS instructors. The
great misfortune and drawback 10 me
emaucipated race has been the lack or
care and training for the young negroes.
A shrewd old black woman remarked
some years since. The young nlsBeia
amt rrowed up in freedom, they nave
been jerked up" Although much mas
been accomplished by the public schools
and by private bencyOlence Tor the men
tai development OF cOlOred youth, there
has been almost entire neglect OF tHS
majority In the Indispensable industrlal
arts. acquired by their parents III s'a'e-
~ What has been the result or the
,rowth of a generation without training
.. trades is told by the
crowding Of our prisons with ne
or, criminals. nine-tenths OF them born
re. Inv the ragged. dirty worthless col
ored youth thronglng the streets OF our
towns. and BY the terrible nor AMY @iIo--s
our young colored people. is IL noI Inc
10 call a halt, I'm the name OF huii""'.!
and for the sake of our country nc W.
safd suffer the little children 10 come
INTO me and forbid them not made no
distinction OF race i'm his words OF ten
derness and sympathy.
We all SEQ the evil as II exists among
us. Shall we not seek the remedy Ia
perlence proves that it can be found
I'm industrial schools.
The wonderful work Of the Hampton
school has been accomplished on this line.
Each pupil of that admirable institu-
ton is given a good English education.
sufficient 10 enable him or her TO teach
in the primary schools OF the state. But
fully as important as the book learning
IS the teaching OF trades. Each pupil
learns some kind OF useful work, which
will enable him or her 10 earn LIVING
outside Of teaching. Many industries are
practiced I'm the great workshops OIL
HAMPTON. which tend 10 make the pupils
solf-supporting. and gives good citiZens 10
the communities where their lot is cast.
It is fine tribute TO the
faithful teachers of the Hampton
Institute that out of eight hundred young
colored people who have been trained by
them. only two have been arrested lo-
breaking the laws.
The industrial school for coiored youth
Of both sexes. at Manassas, though only
10 All a ftF
ing excellent work. The Mayor or the
town certines that no case Of disorder
has been brought to his notice among the
ninety pupils attending the school.
Richmond has a fine Object-lesson OF
Industrial education in the HartshOrn In
stitute, which has been opcn for twelve
years past. IL is most pleasant ana
encouraging sight 10 go through the adj
mirably-conducted school, hear the thor
ough teaching in the classroom. see the
tidy, cheerful, sensibe-lOoking young col
ored girls at their tasks and examine the
excellent system taught i'm household arts
which is making them proficient IN cook
ing, sewing. laundry work. etc.
Under the Slater fund. IL is proposed 10
open at various points in Virginia in
the coming year, classes for instructing
cOlored girls in cooking, sewing, ana
nursing.
What a change would be wrought II all
the good women of Virginia would in
terest themselves IN the training or the
col0rcd children I'm industrial schools. as
did the matrons Of the Old Dominion In
times gone by. Although no longer our
slaves. they still have claims on US as
citizens our slaves were faithful 20 Us
through the terrible dangers or civil war,
and we may return their Kindness ana
good service TO IA by saving their chill
dren from the evil environments which