The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-10
QUINCY EWING DISCUSSES
PURPOSES OF EDUCATION
Continued from Thirteenth Pase)


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more liberal; by education on wider and
more practical basis--a basis SO wide and
SO practical that the lowly realities OF
life will not be scorned in the search
for it's high ideals, nor high ideals Tor
gotten in the possession and use OF lts
lewly realities. believe that the INDUS
trial school, as the idea 1t embodies
grows and Spreads will solve the great
problem of human history-how TO preak
down the barriers between this class OF
the learned and that mass OF the lsnor-
ant; how to bring together tine hand-
workers and the head-workers IN one vast
brotherhood of common achievement ana
common possession, ana common Joy.
how to make the highest civilization
majority rather than a mere minority,
privilege.
AS the work of the Industrial school
is more amply and better done-and IL
is certain to be more and more amply
and better done-the assumption VIII
pass, that no man is really fit to work
with his hands. 1t will pass replaced by
a very different assumption, that no man
is really fit to work with his hands who
neglects to work with his head. Ana
instead of its being a mark of credit 10
be able to work only with the heau' IL
will be a mark of credit to be able TO
work only with the head, 1t Will be a
mark of discredit not to be able TO work,
too, with the hands. The learning which
grows the finest possible ear OF corn or
boil of cotton will be deemed quite as
valuable and quite as elevating socially
as the learning which scans Latin verses
oil. writes them. The social stigma at
tached to manual labor must pc done
away when educated manual iaoorers pc
come the rule rather than the exception;
4 oh h6-
come the rule rather than the excep.
ton, If the idea of the Industrial school
prevails.
No Reason.
There Is no reason In the nature of
things why the manual laborers should
be only a manual laborer, mere MAKER
of bread and raiment; no reason why me-
too. should not see visions and creams;
dreams, claiming as his by right intel
lectual fellowship with whatever glorifies
the real of intellect. Nor Is there reason
in the nature Of things why every man
should not be, to some extent, maker
of bread and raiment as well as seer
of visions and dreamer of dreams; why
education should mean for any mans
hands that he doesn't use, any more
than a head that he doesn't USE When
society is wise enough not only to say 1t
wants. but really to know It's wants.
economic Justice, there will be no con-
flict between manual labor and mental
culture: every day will be long enough
for both. The feeding of the worlds
stomach the clothing Of the worlds BODY,
does not require and tragic divorce be-
tween mind and muscle" Nay, but rath-
err. the worlds stomach could be far bet
ter fed than 1t is today, and Its body far
better clothed, If all men were doors or
useful work and all useful work were
deemed honorable; II II were not more
remarkable for the farmer, miner or me-
chanic TO be an educated gentleman than
1t is today, for the lawyer, the DOCTOR
the preacher. When economic justice
reigns, the worlds bread-makers will be
as reputable as it's bread-eaters. Manual
drudgery and degradation for the many
will not be the price paid for the intel
lectual Injuries of the few.
with that noble thinker, Edwin Mark
ham. T dream of time Arcadian, an
age of reason, when there shall be wit
messed the union Of labor and culture
I. too, want to see the poet test his poem
by the music of the turning wheel.
want to see the preacher test this the
ology by the higher criticism of the prun-
ing hook I want to see the professor
test his comic sections by the curves or
the apple that his elbow has called from
the ground A new happiness will de-
scend upon the. world, when the MUSES.
sing in the mills and Apollo takes to
the plow.'
I believe the Industrial school OF today
is a prophet and more than prophet,
of that new larger better, happier time,
waiting to be ushered in by the union
of labor and culture" when man shall
walk with his brother man In ways of
wide sympathy and high service. untrod
through the ages gone and become, in
deed. "a creature fit to claim world
for his dwelling place.
Therefore, I think OF this school, the
Southern Industrial Institute, though in
its infancy and beginning, as one of the
most significant social forces of your
county and our state; and. I most hearth
ly congratulate you, my young friends,
who have had and are having, the bene-
fits of it's training; who have felt, and
are feeling. the inspiration of its ideal.