Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-07-17

the law allows. Could one that chooses
the latter feel that there is a trainin0
Tor him in the school that will make
MIN more valuable in the store or fac.
tory he might take that training, and be
more Intelligent and useful citizen in
the end.
BUSINESS men say that if they can get
boys before twenty that is soon enough
10 make good business men of them.
lnls age gives the boys a chance to
complete their high school course be-
lore entering business pursuit. And
before the age of Is no boy should be
obliged TO perform hard labor Of the
mill or factory. Hence all BOYS should
be allowed TO pass through the high
shoot. But what shall hold these two
classes OF boys, in our present courses
with manual training and commercial
training added to our present courses
ana made fully their equal we should at
last have complete, public high school
and these boys would get what every
city ought to supply.
INDUSTRY and commerce are to be the
dominant factors of our coming civil
izaIion. Germany recognized this some
years ago ana set about educating her
aftlzans, traders and diplomats. The re-
suit is that she is crowding every nation
IN the quest of trade. England 1slearn-
ing this lesson from Germany. the Unit
ed States has been tardy in recognizing
the value OF manual and commercial
education, because our natural resourc-
es nave been so great that earning liv-
ing has been comparatively easy but the
movement is now rapidly growing.
educational movements are usually
first heralded in the Universities. In
the great state of Wisconsin. recognized
as one OF the leaders in education.
It's university years ago established a
college OF mechanics and engineering
whose enrolment has trebled during
the last 10 years, and college of agri-
culture whose attendance increased II
fold IN the same time. Now comes the
announcement that college of com
merce is to be added this fall. In the last
Legislature the appropriation for manual
training was doubled so that an adj
dltlonal 10 cities could receive state aid
IN establishing manual training depart
ments IN their public schools These
are all advanced expression of the new
spirit In our schools which is not
ashamed OF study, or course because
It IS practical. If history repeats itself
TINS policy on the part of our state
university will creep into the city
schools.
The public schools have almost wiped
out the bitter neighborhood feuds that
existed IN SO many places in the early
days. Public education is long lesson
in charity, respect and fellowship. But
a new separation is creeping into
society, a separation into classes. The
grand function of the high school in the
future will be the unification of the
different elements of society into a har-
monlous community. 1t cannot do it
as now organized. 1t will do it when it
recognizes equally all economic groups
and establishes in addition to its present
currlcula courses of study of equal
worth and dignity in manual train
ing, domestic economy and commercial
training Boys who have worked to-
gether at the bench will not think each
other wholly bad when one is working
for the other in later life. Besides this
a new dignity will be given labor in the
eyes OF the coming generation, leading
to greater love for it and more faith
fulness in performing it.
L have confined myself to the socio-
logical argument for the introduction
OF these branches. The psychological
argument was presented with great
force by Supt. l.. ID. Harvey in his adj
dress last March, in which he showed
of how much value manual training
was In developing the mind. If then
the needs of the individual pupils and |
the demands of society both called for |
the introduction of these courses that
are so practical it would seem that no |
city should delay putting them in.
A word might be added about the |
need OF course in the domestic arts. |
No one can tell what a score of years |
VIII brlng forth but certainly every girl |
should learn household arts. Most of |
hem Will some day be responsible for |
,he management of their own homes
while many will be servants and dress.
The knowledge of these and
kindred arts will hurt no one, and is of
almost universal interest to all woman
lind. We have a servant girl problem.
It is because the position of these
is tagging behind that of other
1t is still position of servi-
ude and marks an earlier condition of
oclety when all labor was looked down
lpon by the educated classes. That
lay has passed for most laborers. 1t
will soon pass for this group of laborers
90, now that so many cities are recog-
lizing the true dignity of their labor 6y
,utting domestic training into their
ity schools.
know of nothing so valuable in so
many ways as manual training and
omestic economy and / heartily rec
their introduction in addition
commercial training already decided
pom.
AS this report is already long | shall
OF speak in detail of the various phases
t the school work for the year Just
losed. | believe we have had better
ervice from our teachers and more
ffective work from our pupils than
yer before.
The continued confidence and sup
ort of the members of the Board of
ducation, the advanced attitude of our
itizens on educational matters and the
Ordial support of the local press have
lade possible what progress and pros
Gritty the public schools have enjoyed.
Respectfully,
KARL MATHIE,
City Supt. of Schools