Evening star., 1905-10-17
INDUSTRIAL WORK
MEETING OF THE DIRECTORS OF
MANASSAS SCHOOL.

The board of directors of the Manassas
Industrial School for Colored Youth met at
the school Saturday, Mr.. Oswald Garrison
Willard, the recently elected president Of the
board. in the chair. The other members
present were Mrs. e. 8. Mussey, Mrs. e. B.
Dodge, Rev. II. H. Waring. Rev. D. G.
Henderson, Rev. NJ. D. Williams, Miss j. E.
Thompson. Mr.. George c. Round and Miss
Jennie Dean. Many improvements on farm
and buildings during the vacation period
were reported. and plans were discussed for
further additions to the buildings. A hearty
vote of thanks was extended to Miss Emily
Rowland of Sherwood, N. Y, for the re-
habflitation of Rowland Hall, the gift of
Miss Rowland ten years ago. At the cost
TO her OF 5000 Miss Rowland directed at
the close of the last school year that How
land Hall be repaired and improved. with
hard-oil finish on all inside woodwork and
fresh outside painting. and the result Is
that passengers on the main line of the
Southern railway steaming out of Man
assas see one of the most attractive school
buildings in the south.
The board discussed the curriculum, with
a view to adapting it to the special needs
or the pupils of the community, and 1t was
decided to lower the age of admission from
sixteen to fourteen years and to make the
entrance examination less difficult. A
further revision of the curriculum being
revision was named by the president. to re-
port at the next quarterly meeting of the
board, January 13, 1906.
Doing Excellent Work.
While the school is said to be doing ex-
cellent work within its bounds it is noted
that the very generous gifts of friends in
the past have been directed to purchase of
the plant, the development of the farm and
the erection of the buildings, and that the
school is not yet industrally what its pro-
3ectors intended it to be. Special appeals
Will therefore be made for aid to eStab blish
the shops necessary to carry on the indus
ern methods, that the school may realize Its
original idea Of graduating boys and girls
with trades, as well as with a well-ground-
ed English education.
After the meeting the board adjourned to
the school room and was entertained by
the pupils singing plantation songs as only
coored children can. President Willard,
Mrs e. S. Mussey and Miss Jennie Dean
addressed the school.
Founded by Miss Dean.
The Manassas Industrial School was
founded in the early nineties by Miss Jennie
Dean, colored woman of ability. born a
slave on the present battlefield of Bull Run
AS she grew up among her people directly
after the she realized their peculiarly
helpless condition and after some years OF
active missionary work in starting Sunday
schools and churches, she conceived the
plan of an industrial school near her home
that the children of the people she was in
terested in might be taught those things
essential to useful life of trade and indus
try in the country, and not be obliged to
wander to the cities to learn how to earn
their living. Miss Dean is firm believer
that the south is the best place for the
negro to win his way industrially, and
throws the weight of her influence to keer
him there.
Mrs. Daniel Paul, a recently elected men,
Der Of the Manassas Association, was also
present.