The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

receive great help and assistance from such advice" And it fs just from such mouastic seclusion, and aloofness from the work-a-day world. from just such
 sharp differentiation of the school or college from commercial matters and business fife, thac there has arisen the grave dsstrust entertained by many excellent practical people concerning the real value and efficiency of the school as training for success in life. To bridge this gulf between education and life Is the aim of the technologicaI institution.
 Broadly speaking. technoiogical heads. CD. The school or colleges of Technology, t2). the Manual Training school, (s) the Trade school. The aims and objects of these three classes are definitely and clearly distinct from each other. Yet there is much confu-
 sion and misunderstanding concerning them in the minds of the public. We shaii briefly discuss them In the re- verse order named.
 Trade Schools.
 As the name indicates, the object of this type of schools Is to teach trade. The main goal here is high degree of skill, or dexterfty, in the chosen trade. As a rule, the methods of instruction are largely empirical, involving but limited. elementary education. with but slight knowledge of fundamental prin- cipies either of the mathematics or sciencs involved. "The rule of thumb is sufflcient." This phase of industrial education concerns itself with cafpen- ters. moulders, machinists, tinsuffths. whee1wrights. blacksmiths. plumbers. worknren engaged on electrical fittings and those in charge of engines. gard ners, dairymen---in a word 1t concerns all skilled worknaen and conscquently, is of the supremest importance to the we'll being of the state. Yet only the most rrleagre provisions are available for white youths in the South fin this department of technical education. In some of our larger cities and industrial centers, the Young Mems Christian As- sociation Is offering excellent courses in drawing and other technical sub-' 5ects; while the Correspondence Schools also ofYer valuable asaistAnceA But this help is limited to but A pittful few. The best wishes of every one inter- ested In the progress of the State are enlisted fn behalf Of the efforts un- dertaken for the establishment of trade schools in Gadsden, Birmingham and elsewhere. and 1t is to be hoped that there will Dc very precise and def finite idea of the work to be accom- plishsd.
 On every hand the demand for skill cd labor Is urgent, tine supply being utterly inadequate. Today there is not d progressive community in Alabama that Is not seeking for carpenters. bricksnasons, stone cutters. harness makers, and all other kinds of trained
 workmen. And this training our white children must have or all forms of in- dustrial occupation will pass from their control.
 And not only Ia few isolated cen ters, but throughout the entire system of rural schools, there should be intro duced the principle of industrial train- ing. The District Agricultural schools are doing excellent work In this d. recticn, and the introduction of the stu@ dy of agriculture In the common schools was q long step in the right diree- 1 lion. The principles or Agriculture, Horticulture, Hofticuiture, Carpentry, 1 Basket making, all forms Of nature study, habits of birds and pisnts and l fish, why plants grow, how plants grow. all these are of infinite interest and Of the greatest value
 More of these. and less of cube root and partial payments will put more cream into the chnrn and beans Into the 1 bin. and will in a measure counteract the wholesale desertion of the country regions for the towns and cities. How many farmers in any county in Alabama are able to apply to their hus- mess the beneficial results of labor saving machines or of recent discov- cries in practice of farm iifez
 ! Colleges of agriculture. experiment stations, bulletins, farmers institutes are all valuable. but the real work of regenerating out agriculture and our mechanical trades must begin with the children.
 Manual Training in the Common School We come now to the second form of technological school. and that Is man
 ual training schools. or schools for in-
 dustrial education. Here the aim is
 not to train on the one hand the engi-
 necr, nor on the other to impart a trads,
 their purpose being educational In the
 broad sense of the word; though the re-
 suits are of A highiy practical value
 Manuel training" says an authority,
 .includes drawing. design. covering,
 moulding, joining. piano-piaying, any