The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13
Manual Training in Our City
Schools.

Editor o. The Times Dispatch.
Sir.-It is learned that the Richmond
school Board mas laid out plans Tor i'm
creased manual training in the public
schools. and for the establishment of two
new kindergnrtens. The noble men who
compose our School Board could not, in
my opinion. have adopted a wiser course.
or one that Will DO more 10 help the
children and 20 enrich the material inter
ests OF tho city. There are several rea-
sons that commend the appropriation OF
$4,000 asked for 10y our School Board.
1. Around Richmond there IS no spe-
clauly fertile region for farming, such
as the rich prairie land around Indian
apolls. or tho Bluegrass region around
lexington Ky. or tine flat areas I'm
the -Mississippi Delta. Hence. Richmond
IS dependent FOR It's substantial growth
upoa manufactures and commerce. Hap
PLY. for these two main lines of ac-
uNity. Richmond Is admirably adapted,
situated as Il is upon the falls OF The
James. ana having excellent commune
cation by water and rail with al the
world. The Richmond Locomotive Works
ana similar prosperous enterprises point
the way TO sure and large future for
our people.
Industrial training IS essential TO pre-
pare our youth to gain the fun advan-
tages from the situation Of the city. IL
is beyond question that the type ~ edu-
cation primarily demanded here al present
is archaeological. and for this reason every
citizen must take a keen interest IN the
development OF the Mechanics Institute,
which is doing excellent work as "a night
school for tho i've hundred and twelve
earncvi students in IT, Now. the kinder
garten and manual training In the public
schools constitute the basis 81 the
pyramidal system ia education for
which Richmond is striving.
2 Manual training. as heretofore taught
in the Richmond public schools has
been gratifying success. II once "a com
piiment 20 the wisdom os the School
Board along with the city Council and
positive bencat to the community OBS
O whole. Like an good things. lt is
growth. At first. only i've Thousand doi-
lars was appropriated fnr these basal
purposes. then ten thousand dollars. and
now the work has SO expanded as %
nee essitate eighteen thousand our ad-
vances are based on concrete experience.
ard SO approve themselves 20 the ludg-
meut OF tho public 80 city can lose hy
putting skil into the fingers % its boys.
boy QuickeninE inventive genius. by dee
veloping practical initiative. and by Civ
Ing efficiency % tre youthful mind in
concrete ability O. serve tao industrial
progress Of the community
3. one OF the new kindergartans IS 90
be located in Fulton. where there has
long been an urgent demand for such
school II must be plain 60 every cite
zen that Flitun's claim for a kinder
garten should DE needed.
IL Is fact that the present educa-
touai revival ia Richmond. and throuza-
out the state az Virginia had IT. begin
Ming IN the erort 60 establish in thfs
city kindergartens and later. manual
trimming courses. The initial impulse to
educational progress here was the iittle
child "A lttle child shall lead them
The effort for the kindergarten resulted ir
the establishment of the Richmond hiu-
dergarten Training School for Teachers
over which Atiss Parker presldes with
signal ability. % Ted 20 the organization
OF the Richmond Education Association.
which has done so much 20 quicken inter
est in our public schools. and the Rich
mord Association IS the mother OF all
similar school Improvement leagues
throughout Virginia. under the general
direction 81 the Cooperative Education
Association. such s. the significance OF
the Richmond 3S!rdorgartens and instr1ic-
tion in manual training I feel sure that
the community Will rejoice that the
CITY school Board feels justified in en-
larginR this beneficieut work.
g.. MITCHELL
Richmond