The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-11
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Letters to The Editor.
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"Industrial Training"

"Industrial Training"
 Editor The Advertiser:
 In Saturdays issue of The Advertiser appeared a lette. entitled Industrial Training" which letter the writer tells us was occasioned by the death of pr. Broun, the late President of the Ala bama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn
 The author pays high and well de- served tribute to this eminent educator, but in my judgment some of his remarks upon the work being done at the college are not warranted by the truth. EVl- dently ths writer was not well acqua,nt- ed with the system and methods employ ed at Auburn. The present writer IS an alumnus of that college and knows where of he speaks, and wishes especially 10 take exceptions to the following sentence in the letter above referred to: "The school has given scientific training but not industrial skill. The students have learned theory but not practice They have learned how to do from books ana professors but not to do f.om leaders willing to show them how. The lecture room Is efficient, but the workship IS largely wanting. The head Is well tram ed, but the hand remains untutored. With all the splendid mental discipline supplied In the college the industrial skill of the students sent forth Is deplorable.' These sentences, and others to the same effect left unquoted, are calculated to mislead our citizens and to create the impression
 
 formed than their author that this col lege is not what it pre etends to be. or what the people have right to expect it to be.
 Now this is an indictment which can not be supported by facts. The truth is that nowhere in the South is manual training more highly developed than at Auburn. Her laboratories, in every de- pertinent, are splendidly equipped. Stu dents in each department are required to spend large part of their time In their respective laboratories, where will ing and competent instructors direct their labors. There the student is taught with his own hands to put into actual execu- tion the theories taught in the lecture room. In the woodshop he is taught the theory and practice of the carpenter trade. In the electrical laboratory he Is made familiar with the practical trade of an electrician, and upon his gradua- tion is equipped to hold responsible and lucrative positions In his profession. In the pharmaceutical laboratory he is trans formed from a green country boy into finished and competent druggist or phar- macist commanding the hest of positions. The graduates of the Chemical Depart ment are taught in the laboratory to put into actual practice the theory of the lecture room, are capable of holding and actually do hold, positions of trust and profit from the day of graduation. The same Is true of the Departments of Civil and Mining Engineering. In the Depart-
  the theory and practice of scientific and economical farming How to judge cat tle-also how to conduct first class dairy. In the Department of Veterinary Science the theory taught the student is put into practical application by requir- ing him to perform actual surgical op erations.
 Neither time nor space will permit of anything more than a few words con- cerning some of the most prominent de- partments of the college. hut enough has been said to show that the complaints of the author of the letter referred to are without foudation. They are untrue to the facts, and unjust to- Auburn. One who pretends to be a friend to the insti- tuition should better inform himself as to the true condition of things before he presumes to air such views before the public.
 Further on in the same letter the gen. tleman says: "Our graduates if they work at all. must enter as subordinates owing to the failure of our schools to give them skill" This sentence contains an unjust insinuation. and also a decla- ration which cannot be sustained. No more energetic and prosperous class of young men can be found than the grad uates of Auburn. They are filling respon- slble positions of trust and honor all over the country. Nor is it to be SUD- posed that a young man just out of col lege would be immediately placed at the head of important industrial concerns
 
 and of tried ability; but their efficient mental and practical training soon brings advancement However. many instances might be given where graduates of this institution have been called to the man. agement of important industrial inter- prises without having any other practical experience than that acquired at Auburn. The gentleman seems to be much wrought up over the fact that there is not a cobbler's stool In connection with the college. The establishment of this dignified chair may be desirable, but there are surely other additions much more to be desired, and the Board of Trustees will very probably hesitate to establish this proposed department of strictly manual training while other im- portant industries are neglected from lack of funds
 Column after column might be written to show the fallaciousness of the position our friend has been led by ignorance of facts to assume. but l think enough has been said to show plainly that what he has said-thought doubtless with the best intentions-amo1nts to an unjust and un- defendable indictment of a school that is recognized to be the best equipped. the best managed and the most successful of any Polytechnic institute in the South.