The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-12-15
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL.
Snail Carroll County Have One Is Ques-
ton Soon To Be Settled.

The readers of the ADVOCATE well know
that this paper has not been in accord with
the system of public education i'll Maryland.
1t has been opposed to the attempt To give
high education at the public expense. IL has
held that superior education is luxury,
and that Injuries should not be furnished by
public taxation. There is no obligation upon
the part of the state to give the people free
public schools. But, as good or bad govern
ment depends upon the intelligence or ignor..
ance of the people, it has been thought good
policy to establish public schools so that poor
and INDECENT children could have educational
advantages and become intelligent voters and
a protection to society through that intelii-
gence. The design of public schools was to
furnish only elementary educaiion.-spelling,
reading, writing and arithmetie-all that is
necessary to equip citizen for an intelligent
use of the elective franchise. But the system
has gone far beyond this, and Latin, botany,
philosophy, bookkeeping and many other
studies have been added. The teachers like to
teach the higher branches, for in doing SO they
can study them also. and the necessary foun-
dation for an education is neglected. Such a
course is like putting up structure without
foundation, and the result is nearly ms bad
as no instruction at all. And into the free
education system has been Incorporated schol-
arships at some half a dozen colleges and SEM
inaries, and lately the Johns Hopkins Uni
! versity has been practically Incorporated into
the system. The ever-incieasing tendency IS
to higher and higher education, and the peo-
pie are more and more depending upon the
state for that which they should do for them
selves. When the state does for its citizens
that which they should do, it is dwarfing the
energies of the people, and making Them de-
\ sol
reliant, industrious and ambitious people.
1t seems, however, the policy of higher ed
ucation at public expense has been firmly
adopted, and there will be no haliing. The
colleges are gradually depending more and
more upon the state. not only for tuition for
state scholars, but for the erection of school
buildings also, and the appropriation TO the
Johns Hopkins University will be continu-
ing and ever increasing one.
To the higher branches incorporated into the
course in public schools, has been added
High Schools, with still higher courses, and
now comes the Manual Training Schools. By
an act of the General Assembly of 1898. chap
Ter 273, County School Commissioners of
each county are authorized TO establish ard
maintain a manual training school or manual
training department, and the state appropri-
ates 100000 IA year for its maintenance.
When such school or department has been es-
tablished and in working order, state officer
is sent to inspect it, and if he shall issue GER
tfcate that it is properly equipped and under
competent instructor or instructors, upon this
certificate of approval the State Comptroller
must issue II warrant upon the State Treasurer
for $500 90, payable to the County School
Board establishing the school. This money
can not he used fer any other purpose than
maintaining the manual training school, and
no county can avail itself of the manual train
ing school fund until it shall have manual
training school or manual training depart
ment in actual operation.
The manual training school is to be educa-
tonal-not indusirial-thai is it is not to in
struct in actual trades, but to develo pc the in
dustrial faculties; to give the child ideas of
form, shape, size and the construction of geo.
metrical figures; 10 develop manual dexteriiy,
inventive skill and general neatness in muscu
lar effort as well as in literary work.
Three counties : Talbot, AlleganY and
Prince Georges-have established manual
training schools or departments, and in time
no doubt all will do so. Carroll will have to
hear its part of the expense, and the question
for our school Board to consider is, whether
it would not be better for the Board to estab-
fish manual training school or manual train
ing department and thus secure for the sd-
vantage of our children the Sl5O0.OO a year
due the county. should such school or de-
partment be established. No increased taxa.
ton is involved. The money is in the state
treasury, derived from taxes already levied,
and $500. 90 annually is amply sufficient 10
manhattan a manual training school. Such a
school would be valuable addition to present
educational advantages, and as it will not cost
the county any additional taxation, there can
be but one decision in the matter-establish a
manual training school or department. The
matter will come up before the School Board
at its January meeting, and if it is not too late
to secure the appropriation for this scholastic
year. it is likely manual training school will
be established Immediately after the Board
acts.
If the states policy as it seems to be pretty
well established, is to give higher education
at the public expense Carroll might as well go
in and get its share.