The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-07
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

The Board of Agriculture Of this State
in providing for the enlargement of the
A. and NJ College is in line with the
spirit that is growing in the South. 1t
has been said that every mans ambition
everything and everything about some
thing" That is the true ideal of educa-
ton. We often are asked the question:
why is il that Mr. B., who is so well
educated, does not get along in the
world? He seems to know sonnet hing
about everything That is exactly the
everything but is half-educated because
he does not know everything about some
one thing" II he knew one thing well
all his varied education would help him
in that thing. AS it is, his broad in
formation has no special outlet and is Of
little value to him. 1t is like great
body of water that spreads over the
earth having no banks between which
it runs. 1t oozes to the sea without
accomplishing anything. On the other
hand the educated man who knows every
thing about something has a channel in
which his knowledge flows, making power
that runs mills and factories as it goes
to he sea. That may not be perfect
figure, but it illustrates the roint.
In an excellent article written by Mr.
Richard H. Edmunds in the Manufactur-
er's Record this week, that able and OBJ
servant journalist closes his impression
ing:
Industrial or technical training is the
dominant thought of the South today
The son of the rich man is beginning at
the very bottom and learning by practical
experience in the cotton mill, at the fur
mace and in other industries the founda-
tion work for a technical career. He is
seeking broader technical training iE
the schools of the South, as we'll as in the
best of the technical schools of the North.
The poor white boy, with even greater
avidity, is turning to technical education
as the hope of life. The agricultural and
experimental schools of the South, with
the mechanical features attached, are
crowded beyond their facilities. Though
hundreds of poor white boys are paying
their way through these colleges by the
hardest kind of work, there are at least
nine who cannot even secure these adj
vantages for every one who can worl; his
~ hnra
the cry is for the expert and every
where the cry comes from the poor white
boy for the opportunity to become an
expert. Men of wealth and of social po-
sition, men of the class who for years
sought professional career for their
sons are now endeavoring to turn their
attention to the opportunities presented
by the industrial activities OF the South.
Today, whether in the railroad car,
whether at public gathering, at ban
uuet, or wherever men are discussing the
future of the South, technical training is
regarded as the South's greatest need
and the greatest opportunity of the South
ern boy"
Mr.. Edmonds observation is obviously
true in North Carolina. Aside from the
sons or the f1OllS, SteeicS, ouCiiS, hos'NS'
Williamsons, Moreheads and other pioneer
cotton manufacturers in North Carolina,
most of whom are following in the foot
steps of their fathers, very many young
men of wealth and college education are
becoming practical cotton mill men
Among the successful young men who
have lately gone into this business we
NAV mention two sons of Hon. Chas. M.
Cooke, the oldest son of Gen. Julian 5.
Carr, a son Of Mr.. D. l.. Gore, Mr.. Webb,
Mr.. Ashe, Mr. Ruffin, Mr.. Worth, Mr..
McAllister, Mr. Fuller, Mr.. Mebane, Nj.
Borden, Mr.. Royster, Mr.. Schenck and
many others of the brightest young men
in the State Most of them begin at tte
bottom. The textile school at the a. and
NJ College will give the opportunity Of
obtaining textile education to rany
young men who now have no opening to
secure such instruction. The State that
gives it's sons the best educational ad-
yantages will be the State that will lead
in industrial development as well as in
literary and professional excellence.