Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-11-17


tors The subject Of idustlial or tee
meal education. the idea obtains, in
some communities that this is
meant for some form OF an education
which will mean for the negro TO be
come servants. This is not altogether
true. If one will investigate the figures
ol statistics carefully, he will find that
three tines as much money is being
spen, in some Of our southern states.
for the education of the white youth,
in agricultural. mechanical and indus
trial training, as is being spent upon
the negro in the same states, for the
same kind of education.
And if one goes into New England
or the western states he will find
scores of industrial and technical
schools where farming. poultry rails
ing, brick-ma sonry and carpentry are
taught the white youths. We should
be as equally Interested in this kind
Of education as the white people. who
are one thousand years ahead of us in
wealth and opportunity. If they find
that kind of education necessary for
their youth. and if this be true of the
white race, is it not true that
it is necessary for our race. which
is so far behind? While in England
several years ago was in an agricul-
tNral college where | found girls, from
the best families in England, in the
field planting seed. in the laboratory
studying the chemistry of the soil. in
the classroom studying geology and
in the poultry yards raising fowls
Will any one argue that if the white
girls in England, finds this kind of
training necessary is it not equally i'm
pCrtant that some of the members of
our race be trained in the sane man
nGr? | do not care how much of an
academic collegiate or scientific train
iEg one NAV have, the more the better.
Gilt DSiLsI Sdil Out put UIdIHS anu
conscience into the service rendered,
hut along with this kind of training
cne should receive an industrial edu-
cation as We'll All can not be teach
ers, lawyers, doctors or preachers
We must fac the fact that large
per cent of our race must work
whether for themselves or for some
one else. the question then is, shall
tie service rendered be- we'll or poorly
done? In the same degree that we
succeed In farming, in mechanical
trades and in our household work
Just in proportion will the interests OF
the church, the college, the lawyer.
the doctor and the teacher be pro-
Il oted. because underneath the prOfes-
sional class must be the intelligent
producing class
During slavery. on the large plan
t;tions. the trades were taught To
day there are no places where our
people are taught the trades excepting
the schools. In many cases young
men, where tteir fathers were taught
the trades and were skilled workmen
OIL these large plantations, they died.
and the son having no training in
these directions, could not take the
Place that should have been his by in
leritance and they have passed into
the hands of foreign laborers. You
{, ready see the white barber, the
white bootblack and the white labor
er where only members of our race
re seen before.
In industrial lines Of labor. progress
is being made, the old methods arc
eontinua ily being improved upon. In
house.building. mechanical trades,
brick-masonry, carpentry, sewing.
home. new methods are being con,in-
tally being introduced every month OF
the year and unless our youths take
advantage of such opportunities, such
as is being offered by schools such as
this one being conducted by Mr.. Fish
CT, they will be help'essly left behind.
In the south there is little or no
prejudice against us in the field of la
bor, when We can per. Orm The service
equally as We'll as any one else and
lhis condition brings to rs a rare op-
lUrtunity; shall We take advantage OF
the situation or shall we p& rmit 9th
.rs to come into the south and take
that which rightfuly belongs to us?
\ school like his of Prof. Fishers
is serving the best interests of the
community where it no only is teach
ing science literature ana Other sub
jects in an academic training, but i :
also teaching agriculture. the tradta,
mechanics and don estic science as
well. These are the methods. and
t'ese are the lessons which the white