The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-19
new FEATURE ADDED
Manual Training viii Be Is
tablished in City Schools
ADOPTED SCHOOL BOARD
Bids for Work on School
Buildings Rejected

At the special meeting OF the board OF
education yesterday afternoon the much
discussed subject of establishing manual
and industrial training in the city schools
was again brought up. this time to some
purpose. Rudolph Hatfield. president of
the board, submitted a recommendation
TO the members of the board in which he
explained fully the work of such de-
partment, its value 10 the students and
it's ccst. There was some discussion by
several members over the advisability Of
establishing manual training at this
time, but when the vote was
taken not one of the board voted
against the measure. Manual train
ing will be given at least a trial in
the city schools. This matter has been
placed before the board a number of
times but until yesterday they were never
able TO see their way out. The following
recommendation, submitted by Mr.. Hat
field, explains fully the work and the
need for it:
Gentlemen Of the Board Of Education:
II respectfully submit the following
recommendation for the establishing OF
manual and industrial training in our
schools for your careful consideration
and action:
First, That the ACCESSIBILITY and pop
ular demand far such a department are
quite evident and urgent and this board
will remain dereIict in 2 plain duty II it
Dc or
10 at least furnish an initiatory plant.
Even colleges and universities are
yielding to this age of intense practical
bility' in consenting that the last two
years OF their courses may be purely
elective, in order that their graduates
may be enabled to leave the halls OF
learning with some special equipment for
successfully engaging in the practical az
fairs of life Classical education is not
only desirable but needfuI 10 the well
rounded and comprehensive mind, but as
the vast majority Of men and women
must eschew the learned professions and
enter industrial pursuits for their daily
bread, some special training should be
provided by our public schools to fit
them for some measure Of skill and eff
hciency.
The larger number Of our boys and
girls. from adverse causes. are not per-
mitted TO enter our higher institutions Of
technical learning but are early thrown
upon their own resources and energies
for living
THAT school is OF the greatest use to
q community which gives its pupils the
best equipment for self support and high
est capability for public usefulness. He
who can not maintain himself can not
contribute anything to the public. He
pays no taxes. but increases taxes. The
greatest help to the boy is 70 enable him
to help himself. and the greatest help to
the public is to insure it against the boy
becoming a charge on the public from
crime. or poverty. or helplessness-
Second. That the present limited re-
sources of this board require strict econ
omy and will allow only the minimum OF
outlay for an industrial department at
this time. We can only hope. at present.
10 grant the privilege OF such training
10 one or two grades and the high school.
But if Wichita is TO maintain her place
in the first rank Of public schools a bee
ginning in manual and Industrial training
must De instituted now.
Nearly every state in the Union has
many cities now maintaining such schools
or departments. and many mere towns
and villages, with very small population
and wealth. have them.
I'VE believe it quite possible 10 Fl up
a portion Of the basement of the high
school building for a work shop and an
other one in the Webster or high school
building for a cooking room.
AT our suggestion Prof. Knight has
been investigating the initial cost OF
two departments Of manual and indus
trial training. covering, for the boys,
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