The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-14
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Continued From First Page.
city officials. He desired it to be under
stood that he was not present at the
meeting as a representative Of the I'M
ion, but as an Individual. His idea was
that an impression should be made on
the public. as to the closing of the me-
chanic arts school, by discussion and
the more the advantages of the school
were made known the better it would
be for the school. Eight or nine months
under the present system would, in his
opinion, be much better than a full year
with the best of the system abolished.
Oliver Crosby said n year ago this
school came near getting it's death
blow. Friends, however, rallied and
prevented the closing Of the institu-
ton. It appeared to be the style to
light on the manual training school
the first thing whenever economy was
mentioned in connection with the
schools. The impression was among a
number of officials n citizens that as
years ago there was nothing Of the
kind in the school system there was
no need of it now. There was no
branch in the school system making
such rapid strides as the mechanic arts
There were, he said, too many lawyers,
doctors and professional men, but there
was a lack of educated men in the in
dustries. The shops were full of ap-
prentice boys, but they could not, oW-
ing to limited education, reach the
top. The manual training school was
doing as much as anything to Onward
the industries Of h city. There was
some politics connected with the pres
ent agitation, and he hoped the citi-
zens would bear this in mind. n the
subject not be lost sight of at the
proper time.
Charles K. Sharood wanted the school
maintained. He was against it's being
crippled, even if it had to be kept up
by popular subscription. He had a son
who was attending the school n
was certain that the young man was
better fitted for the battle Of life than
though he had gone through the high
school. It would be a disgrace to close
the school and better by far to close
all of the high schools than the manual
training school.
Rev. J. F. Stout said he was inter-
ested in the school and believed the
training Of the hand and mind should
go together. If the school board could
not pay expenses of all the schools
then the manual training and the high
SCHOOLS SnOulu IdIe dIihe. II WOuiu
be unfair to close the n training
school and allow the other high schools
to remain open
J.. D. Esterbrook2 said that his son
now in college hadttaken more interest
in his studies after entering the man
ual training school than before, n
this was the experience of all the
pupils who attended h school.
William Foulke said the value OF
tr,oi nipor nn1116 NOT he called
in question. The most useful citizens
were those who, at some time in their
life had received manual training OF
some sort. The board of education was
in close quarters, but it was unfortu-
nate for the city that there was a dis
position to make the principal re-
trenchment in the school system. In
stead of this being the first place to
retrench it should be the last. There
was nothing Of 30 much Importance to
the city and the public welfare as to
maintain the present high system
which had characterized the schools for
the past five years If the system was
broken down or crippled 1t would re-
suit in those who were contemplating
a residence in h city, choosing against
St. Paul. The city was unfortunate in
having in official positions people with
very ANTICIPATED views as to education.
They were two or three generations be-
hind the times. Some of the officials
were opposed to the kindergartens.
Unfortunately for them and the citi-
zens there were no kindergartens in the
days they went to school. 1t was said
tina these officials were honest in their
views and that made 1t all the worse
for the schools. One of the city officers
had stated that children in the kinder
garten could not coun twenty and did
not know the A B C's. What was
needed was that the officials should
study the school system and compare
it with what it was when they went to
school. The most feasible plan was to
keep the whole system up and continue
the schools. It was much better to
have only seven months of the present
system than ten months of demoralized
schooling. George J. Grant saw no
reason why the manual training school
should be abolished. If the people all
pulled together it could not be done and
the board would not r to close it.
Mrs. Condit, of St. Anthony park,
thought it would be unwise to have
the school closed. Residents in the
extreme limits of the city would be OBJ
liged to send their children to the
Minneapolis schools, and while it was
much nearer, it would not be for the
best interests Of the city.
Rev. William Och1er brought out the
fact that if the manual training and
high schools were one closed, it would
be a difficult matter to get them opened
again. There would be the same deficit
each year and the result would be that
the present school system would be
crippled.
Mr.. Whitney was of the opinion hat
it would be a disgrace to the city to
close the school. He ventured the opin-
ion tina If it was left to the students
as to whether the high school or the
manual training school was to be closed,
the majority would be in favor of clos
ing the high school. He had two child
rem in the high school and one in the
manual training school. If the high
school was closed he could continue the
two who were attending that school
at their studies, but If the manual
training school was closed he would be
obliged to send the other n away
from the city for instruction. The reso-
lutions were hen adopted.