The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-22
ADAY AT THE A.&M.COLLEGE|
What Industrial Education Is.


The question is frequently asked.
What is Industrial Education. and how
does it differ from the education USUALLY
given in schools and colleges?" A visit
to the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege at Raleigh supplies an answer TO
this question. 1t shows Industrial edu-
cation to be preparation for the indus
trial professions: precisely as literary
education is preparation for the literary
professions. Industrial education in
cludes book-study and liberal culture
but these are not ALL 1t includes. also
manual training, skilled work. and tech
meal knowledge such as are required in
( any Industrial trades, occupations or
professions. Business. competition today
in all lines demands of young men special
preparation and practical preparation for
whatever business they wish to follow.
Mere ability to think is not sufficient
One must be willing to work and must
know how to do skilled work, to map
out skilled work, to superintend skilled
workers. Industrial education furnishes
training for this, and, what is equally as
valuable, it fosters and develops in young
men such spirit of work and such habits
of punctuality, system, and economy as
are essential to success in every line of
business.
THE SPIRIT OF WORK.
visitor to the A. and M. College
at Raleigh is much impressed by the
spirit of work which prevails there. All
the skilled work of the college is done
by students or by professors. This worl,
io Of oJY
trical engineer is building a motor or
dynamo, wiring a building, or running
the engine and dynamo to make lights
for the college. A future architect is
handling the plane, the saw, and the
chisel is measuring and sketching build
ings, making original designs, and test
ing the strength of wood, brick, cement
and iron A future mechanical engineer
is laying out and performing work in the
machine shops, or testing boilers and en-
gines, making designs, patterns. etc. A
future civil engineer is surveying the
farm. designing a bridge, or laying out
the foundations of a new building. A
future cotton mill superintendent is set
ting up looms, designing cloth patterns
making calculations as to the cost of
power, planning a system of fire protec-
ton; is carding, spinning, designing,
weaving and dyeing. A future farmer is
studying plants and animals with books.
microscopes, and instruments; and, by
practical experiments in the greenhouses
and fields, is testing what he has learned
theoretically. He milks and feeds the
cattle, makes butter with improved dairy
machinery. judges live stock studies and
experiments with soils and fertilizers,
drains. studies and experiments with the
propagation and culture of plants the
breeding and feeding of animals. In short,
the future industrial worker is not mere
ly studying a thing in books and hear
ing a professor lecture about it, but is
himself actually doing the thing and
testing his own skill and knowledge.
THE SPIRIT OF ECONOMY AND ORDER
Another impressive feature of the col
lege is the spirit of economy and order
which prevails there. This Is q natural
result of the spirit of work. The regu-
lar daily work of the. college requires
its students to be punctual and syste
matte as well as dilgent Every man
must be in his place when the clock
strikes, his tools must be put in place
and kept in order, even his clothing
and person are subject to discipline and
inspection. In short, at the A. and NJ.
College a lad is not only being trained
for business, but is already in business.
Under such system economy, punctuality,
and regularity are a natural result. The
spirit of work is so strong that a ma
jority of the students perform not only
the required work; but in addition out
side of college hours, do extra work and
earn considerable money thereby Dur
ingthe present year almost $4,000 has.I
been earned in this way. While at work,
each student is in overalls; when not at
work, he is in uniform. No rivalry eX-
lists about dress, room furniture, board
ing places etc. The result is no fop-
perry, snobbishness, nor dudism and no
aristocracy except merit. Every artificial
prop is knocked from under boy. OF no
avail are family, wealth, friends, or
other external helps. If there is any
thing capable Of development in a boy.
it will be brought out under this sys-
tenn Not only bright boys, but average
boys and even dull boys are developed
under this system Here are presented
to every boy so many kinds of activitv-
brain working, Woodworking wood
working, Woodworking drawing and
designing, working with plants and ami
mails, with electricity, with forge and
anvil, with saw aud hammer, with mi
croscope and transit with test-tube and
retort, with boiler and engine dynamo
and motor, loom, spindle, and dye-vat so
many appeals to every possible taste
talent. and faculty that, if a boy be not
defective, he must be aroused to some
ambition, some proficiency, some degree
of manhood.
WHAT THE COLLEGE TEACHES
The college offers the following courses
of instructions:
l. Full courses of four years, leading
to degrees in:
Agriculture Gncluding Agriculture,
Horticulture, Veterinary Science, Biology
ard Agricultural Chemistry.
Engineering Gncluding Civil Engineer
ing, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical
Engineering, and Mining Engineering).