The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28
INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION.

INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION.
Popular appreciation of Industrial educa-
ton was a feature of the latter part OF the
nineteenth century which is extending with
added emphasis into the twentieth. 1t has
not been very long since the term ''educa-
tom was construed to mean literary edu-
cation only-that is, such training In the
classics, In literature and belles-lettres as
was given in the colleges and universities
OF the time. Under this definition 1T hap
pened in thousands of cases that the best
educated men were the least fitted to cope
with practical conditions and affairs. Grad
yates of colleges and honor men were con-
stantly distanced in the race OF life by
those who had never seen the inside of a
college Perhaps 1t was the frequent re-
currence of this result that brought about
a higher appreciation Of industrial educa-
ton, though doubtless the exacting de-
mands of a commercial age had much to
do with it. 1t did not come any too soon in
this country, as 1t has proved potent
factor in producing national prosperity and
in establishing the commercial supremacy
of the United States The idea has devel-
oped very rapidly. and now, what with
kindergarten schools which are the founda-
ton OF manual training, and with indus
trial, technical and polytechnic schools,
this country probably has the best system
Of Industrial schools in the world. Certain
Iv fbara fs No other country that can conn
pare with the United States, unless 1t be
Germany. At first there was opposition to
introducing manual training in the public
school system on the mistaken ground that
it would displace intellectual studies, but so
far from that being the case it is found
should 1t not, when every movement of the
eye and every operation of the hand are
the result of mental action? The opposition
referred to has all passed away, and now
there is scarcely city of considerable size
without its manual training school. In the
schools in 1863 cities of the United States
of 5000 population and over. This does not
include agricultural and mechanical col
leges like Purdue University, nor endowed
schools like the Rose Polytechnic. The in
situations of this class are doing a great
work in the way of turning out graduates
qualified at once to meet the growing de-
mand for men of technical education.
The judge of a court, who has given
some thought to the subject, undertakes to
estimate the money value of a man. Take
a man earning SIS month";" he says, land
capitalize him like any other business en-
terprise at say per cent. and he would be
worth 5000. Deductirg one-third of this
amount for the average chances of death,
he would still be worth 5000 to himself.
His value to his family would be further
lessened by the cost of his personal sup
port. Take another earning $50 month
and capitalize him in the same manner. He
would represent a capital of $4,000, ten
times that of the other" This is an original
way Of putting it, and it is not fanciful. 1t
suggests an idea to be applied In practical
education. II parent can educate a boy
from SIS hand to $50 hand he has in
creased his money value from 5000 to s2O,-
600, and has started him with handsome
capital securely invested. If the parent is
unable or neglects to do it, is 1t not prof.
liable investment for the state to do it?
These considerations have some bearing
in general way on the proposed establish
ment of technical institute in this city.
The movement, as the local public under
stands, includes the establishment of an
army post near the city. That would be a
permanent establishment, and, from a So
cial and spectacular point of view would
probably be the greater attraction of the
two, but from an educational point of view
the technical institute would be incompar-
ably the more valuable acquisition for the
city. Once secured, the endowment which it
is promised. its central location and it's
able management would soon place it in
the front rank of such institutions and
make 1t a distinct addition to the educa-
| tional forces Of the country. 1t is to be
hoped the people of Indianapolis will not
| let slip the opportunity of securing an in
stitution that Is offered on terms which, a
| few years hence. will be regarded as ex-
traordinarily easy. compared with the bene-
| fits conferred. The army post and the tech
| meal institute will each Of them bring the
| city in trade every year as much money as
| Is required to secure both.