New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-14
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
PROFESSOR r. H. THURsTON DRAWS A
LESSON FROM GERMANY.

TECHNICAL TRAINING GIVES HER AN ADvAN-
TAGE OVER ENGLAND-THE DANGER TO
THE UNITED STATES UNLESS SIM
liar METHODS ARE ADOPTED.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: I frequently find in your editorial COL
umns discussions Of matters OF public interest
which have for me, and have no DOUBT for
many other readers. peculiar interest as relat-
ing to subjects OF supreme importance to the
country Among these I have rarely met
one which touched a higher question than that
of the Both inst. in which you give haif COL
umn to Industrial Education
The encroachment OF German trade upon the
markets of Great Britain Is one of the most
striking and important events OF our time, and'
though less exciting. Is probably more I'M
portant matter than the action or German! OF
Of Great Britain IN the affairs OF Crete Even
a serious contest In Europe. like that occurring
In the Crimea forty years and more ago. OF De-
tween France and Germany twenty-five years
since only means the loss of a Few Thousand
lives and the extinction of few hundred OF OF
a thousand or two millions Of dollars worth OF
property; while the peaceful conquest ny Yer
many Of the British the French. the Amer
lean market. either or all Of which may be thus
affected would mean the increase OF the wealth
Of Germany in larger amount than by the re-
ceipt OF the French indemnity fund, and would
not improbaby result in loss and poverty on the
other side giving rise to more suffering and UNI
happiness and mortality even than would
great war.
lust how much of this conquest. already be-
gun and so far accomplished as seriously to
alarm the statesmen of Great Britain. Is due To
the wisdom and foresight OF Germany in organ
ling her wonderfully extensive and complete
system OF state education and Of schools OF APP
piled sciences and Of the trades and professions
~ constructive arts no one can of course. def
nitey say: but there is no question that this
statecraft put in operation generations ago and
consistently and steadily adhered to for decades
and I'D to our own time. Is very largely the basis
Of the remarkable trade development which Is
to-day attracting the attention Of intelligent
men and Of all statesmen throughout the world.
4 famous and statesmanlike engineer and ship
builder John Scott Russell, the builder of the
Great Eastern and the author OF the now famil-
lar "wave-line theory" Of ship construction and
Of various published works including on
Systematic Technical Education was In Ger
many about a half-century ago and in 1860
wrote OF his observations thus:
Twenty years ago professional duty took
Germany for the first time. | canno, forget my
first impression at the sight Of whole rations grow
led. ! might almost say perfect. education. had
ALREADY become acquainted with some theories and
Of the perfec, training for nation. was familiar
with EDUCATION in England In Scotland: ana ds ~
teaching. and enjoyed the privileges Of university
workshop was familiar with the system OF Bell
m perSOnal
with its authors. and had myself taken an active
but confess to have been profoundly astonished-
may gay humiliated-at the sight OF nations whose
cation of their people, and of peoples who had
chosen to bear the burdens and to make the saeri.
men or class OF men in Germany the forethought:
organization and patriotism are to be attributed
lticaI anmosity religious sectaranism and State
parsimonv in order TO unite all classes Of the peo-
society TO a higher condition of personal excellence
and usefulness and. by diusing equality Of eduGa-
tinctons-('' Sysiematcal Technical Education"
London 1859 See also Repor' Of ~ D. STATE ,S con-
s., Trans A. s. NJ F., 1892.
This great governmental system of technical
education Is as universal in extension as II Is
national in character. and every German city
has its manual training and trade schools. and
every province its polytechDicum and its scien-
tifc side in the university. In Germany, even
more than ever in France. the governing and
the educated classes are promoting In all posi-
bic WAYS this education Of the people to do the
work Of the nation. All work for a common end.
Prussia has spent 1t Is said, not less than
81 600 900 on it's great technical school at Char
lottenburg; Zurich 100000 on its new labora-
tory alone at it's Polytechncuri. and Saxony-
half the size OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS an equal sum
annually on its State university. Some slight
idea may be formed of the extent and importance
Of this movement in Germany when 1t Is stated,
as the writer has sometimes put It, to educate
our people as well the most favored parts Of
Europe. as Germany. should have In this
country:
Twenty technical universities, having In their
schools OF engineering and higher technics 30 IN
structors and 800 pupils each;
and 800 students each.
Two thousand technical high schools. OF manual
training schools. of 10 instructors and 200 pupils
That is to say. there should be In the United
States to-day 100 university professors and in
structors and 10000 students under their tuition
studying the highest branches OF technical work:
there should be 1000 college professors and l6oOo
pupils in technical schools. studying for superior
positions In the arts: and 1000 teachers engaged IN
trade and Misunderstanding schools. instructns
Skilled workmen We have in this country 100000
families among which are at least 10000 boys
cost OF such education would be Per annum about
school tax and In the shops of these schools less
than 800 student. and for total costs Of higher
education under $500 per annum per student. Such
Is the work OF which so small part, ut most.
be done by existing colleges. however great the de-
sire Of the authorities TO carry out tho intentions
of the people. Such IL the somewhat intimidating
comparison. also. OF the condition OF our country:
and the more entcrprisng and wisely governed
countries Of Europe. The latter have had gem
erations the start OF us. and only extraordinary
nary natural advantages OF our country and the
more extraordinary general intelligence and enter
prise OF It's citizens can possibly prevent this dis
Advantage under which we labor from telling fatal
iy against us In the course of time when the incv-
liable competition Of the world shall affect MS
-(''rechnica Education In the United States" Sca
also Reports to the Trustees of Cornell University
by the Director OF Sbley College. 1894.
Obviously. the only safe and sure way OF meet
ing such competition is to secure by similar
or more effective system. through statecraft and
well.planned political movements. an equally