The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-01-22
PROF. WOOTEN'S
ABLE ADDRESS
Delivered Before the South
ern Educational ASSoci-
alton Recently,

Industrial Training In the Public
Schools" was the subject of able adj
dress delivered by Prof. ]. C. Wooten, SUI
-perintendentt of the Paris CTexas) schools
before the Southern Educational Assoeia-s
'tion at Memphis. Prot. Wooten said in
part:
"Amore important question cannot come
before the Southern people in this genera
ton. The conditions that confront us to-
day, demand that something more be done
toward Industrial training than our sever.
al state and private institutions of technol-
ogy, AGRICULTURAL and mechanical col
Ieges can possibly accomplish, although
these schools have done and are still doing
a wonderful work. Manual training schools
must be placed nearer to the homes of our
people. Many are.too poor to meet the ex-
pense, however small. which must be in
CURED, IN sending a boy girl away from
home. In many cases we fail to reach the
very ones that ought to be reached. Yet
we must be actuated by common sense in
the establishment of such schools and not
by mere theory. Industrial training cannot
now be introduced into the coutry schools.
1t is impracticable; but 1t can be made
successful in. our cities and towns. This
would be nveasy reach of a majority of
girls in almost every county of every state
1.-THE profession are full, and the time
has come when we must prepare our boys
for some other pursuits. Education is no
longer regarded as a mere ornament. Tt
must accomplish something and in order
to do so, new avenues of industry must be
opened up for 1t. believe that every man,
IL possible, SHOULD have some trade or at
least know something about some trade,
and I am an advocate of the doctrine that
1t should be taught him while young. The
old apprenticeship is not a bad idea, though
too slow for this rapid age. Fortunate is
he who has some profession or trade upon
which to rely if failure happens to over
take him in some other business. Too
many of our boys enter upon the sterner
duties of life without a due preparation for
Them From some cause they rush into
business too soon. There is great deal of
boy labor in our southern cities Men
employ boys because they are cheaper thus
leading them away from our schools before
they have received even a tolerable educa-
ton. 1t is a lamentabe fact that not more
than twenty per cent reach the eight year
in our graded schools. Without education,
without industrial training save that of the
rudest kind, they find their salaries remain
the same year after year.
II believe that If we place industrial
training in our city graded and high
schools, we will not only benefit our boys
by preparing them to learn some of the
useful arts and sciences, but we will be
able to keep them in school very much Ion
ger.
"The fundamental principle that under
lies public education is not only to make
more intelligent citizenship, but also to
create a useful and honest citizenship. To
train not only for self-government. but for
a self-supporting independence. That gov
eminent is best which has the fewest pau
pers and the greatest number of thriving
artisans and honest laborers. 1t is ours to
help in creating such a state of affairs,
and believe we can do more toward 1t in
our schools than anywhere else.
"If there was nothing else to make me
favor the introduction of manual training
in our city schools the large negro popu-
lation we have would be sufficient Any
one familiar with the condition of the ne
gro today must admit that something must
be done besides talk to make that condition
better. True, education has helped him.
but at the same time 1T has had its draw
backs The average country negro as
soon as he learns to read and write thinks
he is called to preach, and feels that his
day of toll Is at an end. This race must
be taught that their future veal Is depen-
dent upon their following useful pursuits;
that education does not mean cessation
from labor, but is instead to assuage its
severity and to Tighten its burden.
'It is not in my province today to dis
cuss any plans for the Introduction of in
dustrial training into our public schools.
Such plans, if you desire them, should be
well considered before adopted. We Should
have united effort along this line, and do
our utmost ITO help the higher industrial
schools of our states as well as our col
eges and universities"