The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-15
SUNDAY. JULY -. 1900
EDUCATIONAL.

The convention of the National Educa-
tional Association. in session in Charleston,
was an occasion of unusual interest. A
great many live questions were discussed
and the convention laid special stress upon
technical training.
1--WE note with PRIDE said they. IN
series OF resolutions adopted, the 14tpid eX-
tension OF a provision for adecuate sec
on6ary and higher education, as well as for
technical, industrial and conn iercial train
ing. National prosperity a-d our economic
welfare in the years to come will depend
IN no small measure upon the trained skill
Oh, peop.e, as well as upon their inven-
tiveness. their persistence and their gene
raj Information.
The term education has broader signi-
fcanca in this than in any preceding age
There are men alive to-day who can re-
member when education was term appli-
cable only 10 literary training. In this day
education applies to the shop as well as TO
tho professions. The mechanic who sue
ceeds and makes good wages is the me-
chanio whose mind, as well his hand,
has been trained In the work which he I'M
dertakes. In a series of articles we have
commended thai a nations greatness IS
Largely dependent upon its commercial and
industrial prosperity. Tho United States
owes its greatness in a large degree to the
fact that il has the hes: mechanics in the
world. Our mechanics ara so skilful that
We are able to pay them much higher
wages than the mechanics of some OF the
foreign countries receive. yet by reason of
this very skilfulness We have learned TO
make the best article at the lowest cost,
and SO we can keep up wages and yet
compete successfully in the markets Of the
world.
Another important topic discussed by the
National Educational Association was the
position and prospects of small colleges. The
conoensus Of opinion seemed TO be that the
work of the small college should be reIesat-
ed TO the high school and the academies, EEK
tending and deepening it TO a greater eff
cheney. rather than the continuance Of an
unequal struggle with problems that only
large and we'll equipped university can
cope with" We would not be understood
as disparaging the work OF the noble col
leges of the South, hu: it IS the opinion of
The Times, and that opinion has been eX-
pressed more than once, that il would be
much better for the Southern States il the
pricipls of Capitalization should he applied
TO our educational institutions. 1t is SO
much easier 10 maintain ons large uni
persity than several small colleges scat
1-;-t
Its separate buildings and management
This principle has been applied at the
North, and the towering institutions of
learning throughout that wealthy and pop
nlous section may be counted on the fin
gers. There are fewer still of Institutions
OF this class IN the West. But by reason
of their greatness and influence they at
tract the attention of men Of great wealth
who desire 10 perpetuate their memory by
making large contributions to educational
institutions. Il IS the same old principle
that 80 him who hath shall be given
Finally we ara interested IN what the Ma
.ional Educational Association has TO say
about popular education Starting out with
the assertion that democracy provides
for the education OF ali its Children the
Association says tha: TO regard the COM
mon schools for the unfortunate and the
less weai-to-do. and to treat them as such.
is 10 strike fatal Bow at their efficiency
End democratic Institutions: to build up
class distinctions which have no proper
raacs on American soil. The purpose OF
Yhs American common school is TO attract
and to instruc: the rich as Well as to pro-
vide for the education Of the poor. z.
In the oexs sense. the common schoo! Is
q democratic institution: bur 1: hss dam
go which is !. its sociai.stle tendency. The
orer-zeaspus friends Of popular education
ara always trying to introduce some new
dsparsurs, always seeking to have the gov
asansae d mora and more for tho public