Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25
INDU STRIAL SCHOOLS NEEDED.
4 Graduate Thinks There Is Good
Excuse for Practical Reform.

n ErnuUntc Ih1nkS lhcrc ~ &uoou
Excuse for Practical Reform.
To the Editor Of TIL" Evening Star:
l am certain that l speak for thousands
of the thoughtful citizens Of Washington
when l assert that your editorial the
"Colored Schools is the right view of the
situation. You deserve the highest praise
for the sensible suggestions you have made
and for the courage you manifest in ven
turing to express your convictions to pco-
pie who, deluded by their leaders into
thinking that the only means by which
they can gain respect Is to get a college
education, are apt to misconstrue your
remarks.
1t is fact that most of those graduates
of our schools who do not secure teachers
positions either cook or sew, barber or
wait for their living. At present we are
not able to give more than twenty each
year places in the schools. The larger
number are forced to do inferior work as
domestics or apprenticed seamstreSSes. If
we had industrial schools these pupils
could, on leaving school, get employment
at living wages, for they would then be
able to do thorough, intelligent work
So much Greek, Latin. French, German,
trigonometry, etc, etc, is a terrible bur
den for those who have no inherited ten
del.ces in that direction. No wonder that
the majority Of The pupils groan under the
heavy pressure, and resort to various eX-
pedients to make averages. No wonder
that after their emancipa ton from the hor-
rorS of the school curriculum they bid
books a long farewell.
In the High School for, colored children
out of about four or five hundred pupils
ore two, possibly three or four may be
able to attend some higher institution of
learning. l do not know the exact number
of graduates who have gone to college
within the last four years but think the
number hardly exceeds ten.
Now is it sensible TO eypend much time
and money educating pupils for something
they never do when there is something for
them to do which requires an entirely diff
terent line of education? How are we 60
ing to build up the class that forms the
backbone of every progressive people-the
intelligent artisan class, a class much
needed by us, for al present we enjoy the
reputation of doing no kind Of work really
we'll.
What is there in the colored race
whole to support large college contin-
gent? There is among them, as rule, no
money, no literary tendencies, no science,
no art. college-bi d man who is not
fraud needs some sntal food along the
line of his collegiate. raining. Where is he
going to get it? From Harvard College to
Goat Alley is quite step. Yet there is 60
ing to be trouble until some method is de-
vised by which the alley and the college
may be brought more closely together
Why do not the intelligent parents of the
District request the school board to give
the High School for colored pupils a course
of study adapted to the needs of the peo-
pie at large? Our trustees. and Superin-
tendent with about twenty-five years ex-
perence should have looked into this mat
ter long ago; but as they have failed to
see what is needed, the intelligent citizens
should ask that the money appropriated be
used in manner suited to the needs of the
masses of the people. not for the few who,
after enjoying the special privileges now
afforded, end by either ridicuing or de-
spising those less fortunate than them
selves. MEMBER OF CLASS 81,