The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-04

our people i'm certain ways, I'm other ways
undoubtedly limits our national effective
ness 1t is not possible. for instance. for
the national government TO take the lead
IN technical Industrial education. TO see
that the public school system OF this coun-
try develops on all its technical. industrial.
scientific. and commercial sides. This
must be left primarily TO the several
states. Nevertheless, the national gov
ernment has control OF the schools OF the
District OF Columbia, and It should see
that these schools promote and encourage
the fullest development of the scholars i'm
both commercial and industrial training
The commercial training should In one OF
its branches deal with foreign trade.
The Industrial training is even more inn
portant II should be one OF our prime OBJ
jects as a nation, so far as feasible, con-
stantly TO work toward putting the me-
chanic. the wageworker Who works with
his hands, on a higher plane Of efficiency
and reward, so as 20 Increase his effec-
tiveness In the economic world and the
dignity, the remuneration. and the power
Of his position In the social world. I'm
fortunately, at present the effect OF some
OF the work I'm the public schools is I'm the
exactly opposite direction. II boys and
girls are trained merely in literary accom-
plshments, 10 the total exclusion OF indus
trial, manual, and technical training. the
tendency Is TO unfit them for industrial
work and to make them reluctant to go
into IL, or untitled 10 do well If they do
go into IT, This is tendency which should
be strenuously combated Our Industrial
development depends largely upon techni-
cal education. including in this term all
Industrial education, from that which fits
a man TO be a good mechanic, a good car
penter. or blacksmith. 10 that which flts
a man to do the greatest engineering feat.
The skilled mechanic, the skilled work.
man. can best become such by technical
Industrial education. The far-reaching
usefulness OF Institutes Of technology and
schools Of mines or Of engineering is
now universally acknowledged, and no less
far-reaching is the effect of a good build
ne or mechanical trades school, textile.
or matchmaking. or engraving school. All
such training must develop not only man.
ual dexterity but industrial intelligence.
IN international rivalry this country does
not have to fear the competition OF pauper
labor as much as 1t has TO fear the edu-
Gated labor Of specially trained competi-
tors and we should have the education OF
the hand, eye, and brain which will At US
TO meet such competition.
In every possible way we should help the
wageworker who tolls with his hands and
who must eve hope in a constantly in
creasing measure) also toll with his BRAIN
Under the Constitution the national legts-
lature can do but little of direct import
ance for his welfare save where he is en-
gagged in work which permits il to act
under the interstate commerce clause OF
the Constitution; and this is one reason
why / so earnestly hope that both the
legislative and judicial branches OF the
government Will construe this clause of
the constitution in the broadest possible
manner We can, however. in such "A mat
ter a industrial training, In such matter
as child labor and factory laws, set an
example 10 the states by enacting the
most advanced legislation that can wisely
be enacted for the District OF Columbia.
Agriculture.
The only other persons whose welfare
is as vital TO the Welfare OF the whole
country as is the welfare OF the wage
workers are the tillers of the soil, the
farmers. II is a mere truism to say that
no growth of cities, no growth OF wealth.
no industrial development can atone for
any falling off in the character and stand
Ing of the farming population. During
the last Few decades this fact has been
recognized with ever-increasing clearness
There is no longer any failure to realize
that farming, at least I'm certain branches,
must become a technical and scientific
profession. This means that there must
be open 10 farmers the chance for techni-
cal and scientific training not theoretical
merely but of the most severely practical
type. The farmer represents a peculiarly
high type of American citizenship, and he
must have the same chance TO rise and
develop as other American citizens have.
Moreover, II is exactly as true OF the
farmer. as il Is OF the business man and
the wageworker. that the ultimate success
OF the nation OF which he forms a part
must be founded not alone on material
prosperity but upon high moral, mental,
and physical development. This education
OF the farmer-self-edu by prefer
ence. but also education from the outside,
as with all other men-is peculiarly neces-
sary here In the United States. where the
frontier conditions even In the newest
states have now nearly vanished, where
there must be substitution of a more in
tensive system of cultivation for the old
wasteful farm management. and where
there must be better business organiza-
ton among the farmers themselves
Several factors must cooperate i'm the
Improvement of the farmers condition
lie must have to chance 10 he educated
in the widest possible senSe-in the sense
which keeps ever i'm view the intimate re.
lationship between the theory of education
and the facts OF life In all education we
should widen our aims. II is q good thing
TO produce a certain number OF trained
scholars and students. but the education
Superintended hv the state must seek
rather 20 produce a hundred good citizens
than merely one scholar. and il must he
turned now and ...en from the class Jook
10 iHf STUDY OF lue great Dook oi nature
Itself This is especially true of the farm
or, as has been pointed out again ana
again by all observers most competent 10
pass practical judgment on the problems
OF our country life.
All students now realize that education
must seek to train the executive powers
OF young people and 10 confer more real
significance upon the phrase dignity Of
labor" and to prepare the pupils so that
In addition TO each developing I'm the
highest degree his individual capacity or
work, they may together help create n
right public opinion and show i'm many
ways social and cooperative spirit. or
ganization has become necessary I'm the
business world, and Il has accomplished
much for good In the world OF labor II
Is no less necessary for farmers. Such
movement as the grange movement Is
good in Itself and is capable OF well-nigh
infrlte further extension for good so long
as a. is kept 10 its own legitimate busl-
ness The benefits to he derived by the
association Of farmers for mutual advan-