The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-19

Inc interview with State School Commits
sioner Glenn published in the Morning
News of Thursday abounds in facts and
suggestions which should have the earn
est attention of all parents and taxpayers
in Georgia. An especially striking compar-
ison was drawn between the states of Mas
sachusetts and Georgia, illustrating what
industrial education means to the material
development of a state. Fifty years ago
said Mr.. Glenn, Massachusetts was less
wealthy than Georgia; now, with one-sev-
enth of our area, she has seven times our
wealth. How did she achieve this remark
able progress? Through Industrial educa-
ton. She has adhered to the policy of
protecting her Industrious infants" She
has taught them how to work; to manu-
facture. to build, to take raw materials
and transform them into articles of high
commercial value. She has sent to the state
of Georgia for a great deal of the raw
material used, and has added 10 her wealth
through the manipulation of that material
As result of this policy of industrial ed
ucation, Massachusetts is a great manu-
featuring state, and her working people
have bank accounts. 1T is said" quoting
Mr.. Glenn, that the money in the savings
banks of Massachusetts to-day belonging
to the laboring classes alone would be
more than sufficient to buy the whole state
of Georgia"
Fifty years ago the two states were ap-
proximately upon even terms, in so far as
wealth is concerned but Georgia had much
the better opportunities in the way of soil
and climate, and seven times the area
With equal efforts, therefore, Georgia
should now be the weather. state. There
We're however, circumstances which mill
tated against the South, and thirty years
ago the fire of war swept over the section
and devastated it. But now all of these
things are of the past. We have entered
into new period. There exists no good
reason why Georgia should not forge ahead
and overtake Massachusetts. and even
pass her.
I'VE are approaching an industrial pc
riod," says MIR Glenn, land something
should be done to prepare our children for
it." The state textile school, recently pro-
vided for is a step in the right direction;
but other steps are wanted. There should,
the School Commissioner thinks, be a sys-
tematic effort to Introduce manual and in
dustrial training in every county's schools.
The children should have something TO do
with their hands at school, as well as with
their brains The brain DEVELOPS better
when there is a little manual work. or in
dustrial instruction, sandwiched in with
the mental labors. The beginning could be
made with very little if any expense, and
new features could be ad led from time to
time as the opportunity was presented.
Under this plan, before a great while our
schools would be turning out inventors. ar
tisans and skilled laborers-wealth makers
the same as those Of Massachusetts.
Mr.. Glenn's efforts in the direction of
improving the public schools of the state
have already been crowned with degree
Of success which must be very gratifying
to him, as well as to the patrons of the in
stitutions. In his work of broadening the
scope Of the schools he should have the
hearty cooperation of every taxpayer who
has at heart the welfare of his progeny.
and posterity, and the state of Georgia.