The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
WILL SEW AND MAKE SHOES.
INSTEAD OF SPENDING MUCH TINE
on LATIN AND GREEK.

Trades Regarded as of More I'm
pOrtance Than the Language of
Twenty Centuries Ago - Studies
! VIII Now he In the Forenoon,
While the Afternoon VIII BE De-
voted to Industrial WOrk-Ma-
ehinery Is to De Put Up at the
! school.
! Co,ored youth at the Industrial School
at Thunderbolt is moi to have quite as
much Latin and Greek in the future as it
has had The dead languages will have
less attention paid them, and, in place
Of devoting 50 much of their time TO the
issues OF twenty centuries ago, the stu
dents win put in harder work in the
industrial branches.
Superintendent Otis Ashmore of the pub
lie schools and Mayor Meldrim, chairman
of the college commission, had consul
tation yesterday regarding the affairs of
the Industrial School These gentlemen
constitute the local committee in whose
hands the management of the institution
is practically left The school is under the
direction Of a commission of five prorni-
nent gentlemen of the state, but of these,
Mr.. Ashmore and Mayor Meldrim are the
only two who live in Savannah. Appre-
eating the need of having a local com
mIttee to look after the institution, these
gentlemen were asked by the commission
TO take charge of its affairs.
This commission meets once a year for
the consideration of matters pertaining 10
the bOOl -
last meeting the local committee of the
commission was requested to take the pro-
per steps to add two branches of indus
trial work to the school allowing them.
IN a measure, 10 take the place of Latin
and Greek. The new departments that
are to be opened UP are shoemaking md
tailoring.
A practical shoemaker and a tailor
have been engaged by the committee to
undertake the work of instructing the
colored boys Of the institution in their
respective arts. Both are colored men,
and they are said to be thoroughly fam
liar with their trades and well capaei-
tated to instruct. These men have been
engaged at only nominal salaries. as they
viii be able to make considerable from
their work
The two departments are to be con
Quoted upon principles that will admit
OF their being almost, If not quite, self
sustaining, so that they will be Of no ex-
ira cost to the institution. In addition
TO this, it Is considered that the boys will
be given an opportunity to make some
thing for themselves by their work m
der the Instructors. Many OF them need
everything they can make to assist them
in the payment Of their expenses, and
IN addition to the opportunity that will
be afforded them of learning a trade, they
will have this chance of adding to their
incomes.
The cost of living at the school has been
put down to the low figure of Sc a month.
This is all that board will cost the boys
al the school. The arrangement through
which they can manage to live so cheap
ly is a cooperative one, and was made
by Messrs. Meldrim and Ashmore. These
gentlemen believe the cost to the boys can
be still further reduced. Opportunities are
afforded them to pick up a little here and
there by working at the several trades
that are taught as a part of the course
of the institution There Is a small farm
in connection with 1t, on which the boys
are given instruction in agriculture. Those
desiring to make a little money to supple
ment what they have to get along on, can
do so by working on the farm. They are
paid a certain price an hour for their la
Dor. BY these provisions, as there are alb
solutely no other charges than that for
board, it is possible for a colored boy to
make enough while attending the school
to support himself and take a course of
instruction.
A change was also decided upon by the
committee for the better adjustment of
the hours for work at the school. 1t was
decided to devote the forenoon to theo-
retical work and the afternoon to the in
dustrial features II the institution. Here
tofore II has been so that a boy might
spend one hour in his Latin class and the
OF IA nv
rangement which viii be inaugurated at
once, all studies win come in the fore
noon, while the boys will give their undj-
vided attention in the afternoon to che 9th |
er branches, of which there are black
smithing, carpentry, brickmasonry, teach
ing, farming, painting and kalsominlng,
besides the tailoring and shOemaking
branches that are 10 he added.
When The commission decided upon the |
change that viii make Latin and Greek |
subordinate in the school course to the |
practical advantages that come from a
knowledge of the trades, 1t was argued |
that it would be a far better plan to turn |
the boys [oose with a training that win |
be of use to them in getting work than |
to give them instruction in the ancient |
languages. With those who are in the nor |
NAL class at the school and who intend |
making teaching their lifework, the matter |
is different, and they win continue to be |
Since It's establishment, some seven years |
ago, the school has never had any ma |
chinery. This is 60 be corrected by the |
committee, and il VIII be but short time |
before a steam engine viii be added to the |
The boys win thus be given |
a better mechanical training Turning !
lathes and other machinery viii be put in
to be run by the power furnished by the |
engine. This VIII be a great addition to
the school.
President Wright has visited the Tuske-
gee school in Alabama, which is presided
over by Booker II. Washington, and the
Virginia School at Hampton this being at
tho direction of the commission. The
president made thorough investigation
Of the methods pursued at those institu-
tons, which are recognized as the fore
most colored schools in the country. and
anne back to Savannah prepared TO incor-
porate the best things he saw into the
working Of his own school Some of the
lew plans that have been introduced have
proven very satisfactory, and the school |
at Thunderbo,t is now conducted largely
lpOn the same nrinCinleg those in |