The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-26
INDUS TRIAL EOUCAT TON
IS De EMANOEO HERE
Committee Reports to Barnard Club and Then to
Mayor Recommending Action in Rhode Island.
Urges Appointment of Commission to Consider
Providence Needs and Conditions.

The following correspondence was made
public today at the mayors office:
Providence. r. l.. Dec. 20. 1907.
Hon. Patrick j. Mccarthy, Mayor OF
Providence,
Sir: / have the honor to enclose for
your consideration copy OF report pre-
pared by the committee on lndustrltl ed,
ucation OF the Barnard club Inc repoIt
briefly states the case for industrial edu-
cation with recommendations for actlon
IN this state. You wiIi oosSiVe ina. ~
vote OF the club, the committee was au-
thorized TO confer with you ana urge
The appointment OF "A commission to In
yestlgate the whole subject with refer-
snce 10 the needs and conditions existing
in this city. We trust that inc mater ,
will appear TO you OF sufficient iippor-
tance 10 warrant careful considerntion'
Respectfully. VICTOR FRAzEE.
Chairman.
TIE MAYORS REPLY.
Providence. II. l.. Dec. -
Mr. Victor Frazee. Chairman Comnit'ee
on Industrial EducatOii,
Dear Sir: 4 have received your com
munication OF this date. and IN repy
would say that heartily approve OF tne
proposal made 10 me by the Barnard clup
and TO further Il will at my early conve-
nience invite representative citizens 70
meet in conference on tho subject 81 the
executive office. City hall.
PATRiGK J. MCCARTHY, Mayor.
TEXT OF THE REPORT.
The text OF the report foiloWs:
Report TO the Barnard club or the COM
nittee on industrial education, Nov 2,
1897:
The United States has invaded the
markets OF the world and claimed SUI
premacy As a matter OF fact, however,
our commercial and industrial supremacy
rests upon an insecure foundation. we
have abundance OF raw products; We
have inventions and labor-saving machin-
ery: we have genius for organization or
big business. Our command OF markets
IS based upon these three things. IL ~
not based upon quality of product or upon
superior workmanship. It's basis Is not
permanent. Our methods OF business or
panization and our mechanical Inventions
are being rapidly appropriated and I'M
proved upon by other peoples. our ad-
vantage in cheap raw material viii dls-
appear with the development of certain
ne wand vast resources in other coun-
tries. We are even now facing the time
when we must stand on the merits OF the
things we have TO sell which means that
we must have skill and intelligence In our
millions OF workmen
2. American education long ago provid-
ed special training for the learned pro-
fessons: IL has recently made straignt
road through manual training. college
electives and technology to the practice
OF engineering and other technical PROBES
sions: IL has made a large beginning o.
practical and scientific training In agri-
culture for the rural population and Is
now preparing an army OF recruits for
business life But these arc opportuni-
ties mostly for the well-to-do. The sense
OF Justice OF the American people is now
demanding for the vast majority. the
children OF the poor. who must leave
school as soon as the law allows, chance
10 learn trade or part OF trade. the
satisfaction OF being efficient and sue
cessful in their work. and the sope of
decent standard OF living.
EDUCATION NOW INCOMPLETE.
s. School men are finding out that mere
so-called general education is only part
OF an education; that the learning Of
facts and rules and principles out of con-
nection with the doing OF useful things
and without the motives and interests OF
real life leaves the minds of the pupils
unframed and irresponsible, morally un-
developed and practically inefficient.
Training for efficiency In some branch
OF industry is needed not only for tho
sake OF the better product. but also for
the sake of certain moral results. such
rs a sense Of values and OF the dignity
of work. steady habits and responsibility,
self-reliance and self-respect.
= 4. A revival OF apprenticeship might
seem to be the natural procedure Under
old conditions apprenticeship was the
means for recruiting practically all
branches OF industry. Under conditions OF
modern machine industry. the almost
universal testimony. alike OF employers
and OF workmen. is that apprenticeship In
impracticable. that II is ro longer
even desirable. that II is fast becoming
obsolete and cannot be revived.
In brief the demands OF national in
dustrial efficiency, OF democratic Justice.
OF real education. together with the de-
cline Of apprenticeship. all now point To
~ I'D tAVR
tive and Inevitable step in the develop
ment OF our system OF public instruction
IN BAY STATE.
.. Massachusetts has thoroughly inves-
tigated the question. In that state 25.0Oo
children from II 10 is years Of age are
out OF school. Some are out because OF