Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-18
THE NEGRO REFORMAT0RY.
The school in Which NirSininnS and
Mr.. Huntington Are Interested.
the DisDatch:

10 the Editor OF the DISPATCH:
The purpose which the Virginia Manual
Labor school of the Negro Reformatory
Association Of Virginia IS designed 10
serve is to give the negro boys girls, and
youths clear sense Of their responsible
ty TO God for their Great ton and preserva-
ton, and to their fellow-beings as MEM
bers Of social compact in which Zach is
obligated TO do unto the other as ne would
that he do to him. and to daily impress,
by example the duty and necessity o.
living by the exercise and use of their
hands in needful. useful. and gainful in
dustry. There can be no successful living
by manual labor divorced from the impel-
ling force Of labor of the mind.
The negro minors for whom the school
has been projected are such as shall yioS
late the laws Of the Commonwealth or
| the ordinances Of cities and counties with
in Virginia, through idleness, vice, and
| crime. This class of offenders embraces
! the sons and daughters OF poor, honest
| and intelligent parents. as fell as Of poor
| dishonest. and ignorant parents-children
of the better. as well as of the worse, So
| cial life. In the light of the foregoing.
! all classes have a common interest in this
matter OF Christian moral reform OF the
| bad.
Some white and some black folk honest
| ly doubt the necessity for such insutu-
| lions Of child and youth reformation as
| the successful ono at Laurel, and the
other now beginning at Hanover. Ii IS
to relieve them of doubt. and 10 produce
/ i'm them a practical interest in the indus
trial and manual labor schools for bad
boys and girls, as well as for good ones.
! that the following thought and facts are
! presented
| For some reason, that we DO
not understand. education seems to beget
contempt for work. The boy who, gradu-
ating from the highest Of the free schools,
fails to get a good business position, and
is compelled 10 do something that Will
| bring i'm money, is really at 4 disadvan-
| tage alongside of an unlearned youth. lie
has not been taught the dignity Of labor,
but has been permitted to get into his
head the baneful notion that work and
disgrace are nearly related.
1t is probable that the schools In Wash
ington are as good as if not better, than
those of any other American city. But
! our schools have not escaped the overload
| ing tendency. nor have they succeeded in
cultivating respect for, or contentment
with. a life devoted TO honest work with
the hands. Among the most unpromising
! young men I'm this community are some
| hundreds who have been nocrlated with
| contempt for bread-winninS by the sweat
| of their brows. and cannot find employ
ment I'm ayocatiOns sufficiently genteel to
suit their taste. "-Washington Post, June
TO- 1899.
The foregoing statement, made in the
! editorial column of the paper published
at the capital Of this great nation will
cause thoughtful mothers and fathers to
think Of the kind of training given their
! ol,fl .gt.p krrHi q
sacrifices. viii the schooling received
make of the boys and sirls competent
youths. men. and women, who can earn
n living under unfayOrab.e conditions OF
| life?
The man whose education was in the
| schools or out of them, who has made
| himself factor in railroad expansion and
management and in the commerce of the
home and foreign markets. whose gaze
| eastward IS hopeful OF the United States's
new foreign policy the benefactor OF the
Virginia Manual Labor School Mr.. Coils
| = Huntington. at a banquet given on the
Pacific slope. made reference TO this mat
| ter OF practical, winning education
as AGAINST the theoretical. impractical,
non-bread- winning education so general,
and for which people are taxed TO sus-
| tain. Parents will do well TO ponder over
his words The black race in the United
| States must think OF, ana act wisely con-
| corning. this matter Of child and youth
| training. il there Is TO be child and youth
saving. or the negro problem" viii con-
| tinue 70 be veXatiOus and nsolyable. THE
| Anglo-Saxon has easily Outstrpped all
7 his competitors in those things which
| make for the commercial growth and sue
| cess of nations, because he has BEEN
| above all other things, practical. While
| the preparation for professional HE re-
| ouires advanced knowledge. 1t seems TO
me that the vast majority of our young
| people spend too many OF their vigorous
| years OF youth inside the schOol-room, and
| not enough in the practical work OF life.
| The years from II TO q are immensely val
liable, for they are years Of keen obserya-
ton. individuality, and confidence. Ia
MANY .cases-quite too many-lhey are
spent in examining the mind with knowl-
edge that is not likely TO help q young
man in the work he Is best ntteu 10 co
How many young men with coHe6e euuca-
tons are standing about waiting lor some
thing that will never come because thc
work that lies nearest at hand Is not tc
their liking? Somehow or other. oui
schools. which teach young people how tc
talk do not teach how 10 live. People
need little but want much.
The non-appreclation Of the conditions
of freedom and ctizenshlp-assOc' ateC
With labor of the hands-in the negro MIND
has caused him 10 look with disfavor upon
manual practical labor, and 10 regar,
those who advise and advocate such
course for black boys and girls as mimi