The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-07

luncn Time ana saw the men ledNe the
shipyard for their homes. I enquircd
and learned that some Of them made
70 cents a day and others SO day Who
made the So a day? The skilled laborer.
Where did he come from? From the
North and from Europe.
while in Orangeburg 5. c.. some
time ago. / happened to hear that the
people there needed a skilled machinist
ard IN order 20 get Tim. they lad 10
send to Kentucky. Undiversihed agri-
culture. bad roads unskilled labor are
the curse of the South. You must put
brains into the work it counts as much
there as in lawyers or Doctors office.
The trouble Is, our education is too theo-
retical.
ENLARGE THE SCHOOLS.
THE schooling which has had such ex-
elusive reference to law and medicine and
theology should be enlarged I'm scope and
purpose and be adopted to the Industrial
ism which monopolizes the large portion
Of every community.
Manual schools are not a mere idle.
Utopian theory. Since 1890. they have
been recognized IS part Of the education.
They have been tried and their success
and utility have been amply demonstra-
ted in over "A hundred cities and towns
in the United States i'm Philadelphia, New
York, Worcester. Springfield. Brooklyn.
Cleveland, Toledo. Chicago. ST. Louis.
g. Paul, etc. Your superintendent of
public schools in Stanton could tell YOU
that ii has been introduced in his city
with marked success.
I'm Germany youth are trained for COM
nercial and industrial pursuits as thor
oughIy as for the learned professions.
Nowhere else IN the world can there be
found such technical and industrial edu-
cation under government auspices. and
hence her recent meryelous commercial
and manufacturing growth. In France
many public schools have their work
shop attachments. and thus thorough.
systematic discipline. The facile talent
and taste OF French artisans and artists
have been developed. and the easy SUI
p~emacy Of tAe ratiOn in so RAINY occu-
pations has been acquired.
England has seen her commercial and
manufacturing superiority slipping away,
and public men and others are encour-
aging scientific and practical training in
schools. An Irish committee recently Wis
tied various countries in Europe. and
reported that what Ireland needed was
technical schools. manual training and
chronological schools The nation which
has the best schools is the best prepared
for the great Industrial warfare which is
before us"
RICHMOND TOO POOR.
Mr.. Curry renewed with emphasis and
earnestness the recommendation which
he made some years ago TO the City
Council Of Richmond, to incorporate
manual training I'm our public schools.
what did the Council reply?' rich
mond Is too poor to DO IT," was their
answer. But I say Richmond is too
poor not to do it," The plea Of hard
times Is no sound plea.
Virginia. out OF forty-nine States IS the
thirty-ninth along the whole people IN
!liiteracy, and among the colofed people
out Of forty-nine States she Is the forty
first. The ratio of silver to gold Is OF
contemplate insigniiicance as compared
10 education and those who cannot read
their Bibles.
I'VE are too poor 10 omit or postpone
this essential remedy for the depression
which afiiicts us This is practical state
craft. more sensible politics. than scram-
bic for Office
DR.. Curry urged With much force that
this manual training was as applicable
TO girls as to boys. Wood-carving cook
Ing, sewing. telegraphy, type-writlng
were easily and cheaply taught. ne said.
Upon the right education OF the Ameri-
can girl depended the future OF the
American home. Good housekeeping. and
even good cooking hygiene. etc. were
most important factors In a nations
prosperity.
The speaker congratulated the state
upon the holding OF this conference. OF
the number OF superintendent present.
their prompt attendance, and the interest
taken by them in public education. When
ever State. out OF a spasm OF economy
or meanness dispenses with Superin-
tendents of Schools in cities and counties,
the result has been poor schooling"
MAINE AID VIRGINIA.
The speaker next drew comparison
between the State OF Maine and Virginia.
In the former. he said. during the past
year thirty-fve per cent. OF the supern-
tendents had no experience in-the-school-
room. while IN Virginia ninety per cent.
had formerly taught school
The speaker regarded an efficient SUI
perIntendent as the driving wheel OF the
educational machine. and said the char
acter OF schools In city and county would
be accurately measured by the charac-
ter and efficiency OF the superintendent.
"Our great, free, generous system OF pub
lie universal education" he said in con-
clusion, must be sustained and improved
whatever may be the cost. Parties. de-
nominations may come and 90. but woe
to any party or society or man. polit;-
elan. or priest, demagogue or devil. who
dares to lay profane hands on this insti-
tuition for its injury Or destruction"
GOVERNOR O'FERRALL SPEAKS
President Massey here expressed great
qualification ct the preseaca Of the Gov