Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-06
GIVEN A RECEPTION
MANASSAS SCHOOL DELEGATION
TO MEET PRESIDENT.

Arrangements have been made by Secre-
tary Loeb for a reception at the White
House Wednesday. February II, at 2:30
o'clock pm. to delegation from the Ma
nassas Industrial School The details Of
the reception have been concluded with
Mr.. Booker Washington of Tuskegee, who
viii address the meeting of the Manassas
Association at the First Congregational
Church. 10th and G streets, the evening OF
the same day.
The delegation will he headed by Rev.
DR.. Edward Everett Hale, who is credited
with being the first influential friend OF
the school, which was called to his atten-
ton by Miss Jane i. Thompson, one of the
directors.
Living in the immediate neighborhood of
the school, and realizing the struggle of
the foundress, Jennie Dean, 10 secure
means for the instruction of The colored
boys and girls, Miss Thompson presented
Jennie Dean to DIR. Hale, with the result
that his interest has promoted the expan-
sion of the institute along lines calculated
to make the students efficient workmen,
with an ambition to have their own homes
In the country.
With DR.. Hale, the repressn alive of the
president of the Manassas Association. Mr..
Oswald Garrison Willard of New York. will
be FIVE teachers of the Institute, among
them t he principal, William c. Taylor, and
the assistant principal. W.. Walter Jackson,
members of the board of directors ana of
the Manassas Association, and twenty five
pupils of the school.
It is expected that the students will sing
at the White House the plantation melodies
taught them by Mrs. Pelham of Howard
University, which are part also of the even
ing program at the church The pupils will
sing without assistance from local choral
organizations.
Desire for Education.
One of the interesting facts about the
Manassas Industrial School is that it Is the
outgrowth of the desire of the colored peo-
pie of the vicinity for better educational
facilities In this respect Manassas is akin
to Tuskegee. which was founded by poor
colored carpenter. Jennie Dean, who has
built up the Manassas school, was born a
slave. and earned the first $40 for the
school. which she and her neighbors wanted
so much, by service in a. Massachusetts
family. She has from the first aimed to
turn cut girl pupils, trained In Homework,
cooking. millinery. etc, and the school
has laid great stress upon this work. 1t is
able to do more for the girls, of whom there
are now fifty under instruction at the
school, because of. the larger girls dormi-
tory, and because of better facilities for
household training than it has for teaching
carpentery, blacksmithing, farming, etc,
to its male pupils. The schools greatest
neeu IS 10 oDldlH money enough TO increase
its manual training opportunities
Has Broader Aims.
But the school does not aim merely to
train the pupils which may be accommo-
dated under its roof. It has broader aims
than this Notably 1t desires to uplift the
adjoining communities. just as has been
done at Tuskegee, Kowaliga Calhoun and
other southern schools. The plan is, by
precept and example, to make better farm
ers and neighbors of the colored people
within reach and to improve the homes.
number of graduates are now filling re-
sponsible and useful positions. Manassas
does not aim to teach Latin or Greek or
any higher branch of study. 1t desires to
give these children good common school
education. to counterfeit the tendency OF
the coiored people to gravitate from the
farms to, the cities and to teach them to
use their hands in manly and honest labor.
observation-disclosures are specially interested in
the school, because of the fact that it turns
out valuable servants, who are in great de-
mand two of last years graduating class
who sought positions having been placed at
once in asnorthern CITY,