The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-26

Cling institution, great though its needs and
wide the opportunity inviting it. is apt to
be allowed TO continue its struggle until
attention is forcibly directed its way. No
modern educational enterprise has accom-
plished greater work within its limitations
than the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial
Institute OF Alabama. Started ii. small
way. and almost without funds, it has
grown into school whose influence is felt
throughout the South. Under the direction
of Booker II. Washington, negro born a
slave, educated through his own exertions
and gifted with the genius of common sense,
hundreds of young colored men and women
have been trained there in a way to make
them self-respecting. self-supporting and
useful citizens. They are given founda-
ton of book knowledge" sufficient to make
them intelligent members of the community,
but tbs greatest attention is PAID to manual
training and to education in such industries
as will fit them TO earn their own living.
Farming, blacksmithing the carpenters.
bricklayer's, mason's printers and other
trades are taught there to the young men,
and domestic service in all it's branches,
dressmaking, millinery etc., to the girls.
They go out from these with increased
capabilities land a liking for better ways OF
living than they had known and their in
fiuence is felt in the communities of the
"black belt'' in a most salutary way. The
institute has no costly buildings or luxurious
fittings; it is in part self-supporting, the
labors of the students helping to maintain
it as well as paying in part their own ex-
penses. Such an institution must necessarily
grow, but the students crowd in beyond its
capacity to accommodate. The report made
by President Washington to the board of
trustees shows the character of the immedi-
ate needs of the school to which no part
of the funds at hand can be applied. The
amount is not large-something like $4,000
and people with but small sums to con-
tribute might easily make it up. They can
find no more worthy object ut is impor-
tant," says the report, that the public be
kept III mind of the fact that this is not a
mere local institution, educating a few
children Immediately about it. No students
are admitted under fourteen years of age,
and the average age is 1872. More and more
the effort is to get the most promising stu
dents from a wide section of territory and
send them back to exert a helpful influence.
During the present school year 1,047 stu
dents have been enrolled-712 boys, 335 girls.
These students have come from twenty-four
States and Territories, and from two foreign
countries. The average attendance has been
$50. All except small number have boarded
and slept on the school grounds. In all the
departments, academic, industrial and re-
ligious, lightweight officers and teachers
have been employed. Counting students,
teachers and families, there is population
upon our school grounds of about 1900 per-
sons. Training is given in twentysix differ
ent industries in connection with academic
and religious training
A vast amount of money is given each
year to educational and philanthropic
causes. 1t is to be hoped that fair pro-
portion of the gifts of the coming year will
go to struggling Tuskegee.